Johann Baptist Reiter

Johann Baptist Reiter (28 May 1813 in Linz – 10 January 1890 in Vienna) was an Austrian portrait and genre painter of the Biedermeier period.

He spent three years as an apprentice at his father's company, painting furniture, signs and crosses.

Probably as the result of a recommendation by Kupelweiser, he was awarded a scholarship by the Upper Austrian Landstand that enabled him to continue his studies from 1834 to 1837.

Originally, he did genre and historical scenes, but he decided to switch to portraits and soon became so popular that he was able to purchase a large house in Vienna with a four-horse carriage and a Moor as a servant.

His new wife's extravagance eventually forced him to take more orders than he could handle, as well as turn to making copies of the Old Masters.