Johan Liss (Lys) was a German painter, active mainly in Italy. He trained in the Netherlands (probably in Amsterdam, possibly with Goltzius) and visited Paris before moving to Italy. Venice seems to have been the main centre of his activity, but he also worked in Rome.

Johan Liss's work enjoyed considerable popularity in Venice, where there was a dearth of talented native painters at the time. Liss shows a remarkably free brushwork and brilliant use of high-keyed color that were the salient features of his style and which were influential on Venetian painting when its glory revived in the 18th century.

Apollo and Marsyas

It was formerly assumed that Liss, who ranks second only to Elsheimer as the most brilliant German painter of the 17th century, perished in the Venetian plague of 1629-30, but it is now known that he died in Verona in 1631.

Apollo and Marsyas: This work was created in about 1627 and is housed in the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice. I have made a reproduction of this masterwork available for purchase.