At the age of 12, Klengel began an apprenticeship as bookbinder in Dresden, while at the same time receiving drawing lessons from Charles François Hutin, Christian Gottlob Mietzsch, Johann Friedrich and Bernardo Bellotto at the Kunstakademie. Painter and etcher Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich eventually taught Klengel as a private student and introduced him to landscape painting. During his summer stays in Kesselsdorf, he created realistic farm and animal studies as well as stable and courtyard interiors.

In 1777 he was appointed member of the Academy in Dresden and annually supplied the exhibitions of the academy with several works. In 1890, he was granted a scholarship for a trip to Italy and for a...