Ernst Zacharias Platner (1 October 1773 – 14 October 1855) was a German painter and writer born in Leipzig. He was the son of anthropologist Ernst Platner (1744–1818).
He initially took art classes at the Academy in Leipzig under Adam Friedrich Oeser, then continued his education in Dresden (from 1790), Vienna (from 1797) and Rome (1800), where he remained for the rest of his life. In 1823 he was appointed consul to the Saxon Royal Court in Rome.
Among his better paintings were:
With Karl Bunsen, Barthold Georg Niebuhr, Eduard Gerhard, Ludwig von Urlichs and Wilhelm Röstell, he was co-author of "Beschreibung der Stadt Rom" (Description of the City of Rome).
Platner died in Rome.