Johann David Passavant (18 September 1787 – 17 August 1861) was a German painter, curator and artist.

His interest in the arts was evident by an early correspondence with the artist Franz Pforr (1788–1812).

There he acquired important works in the prints and drawing area, mounted exhibitions, and taught.

Passavant developed the three principal genres of art writing important for the next two centuries: the scholarly artistic biography, the aesthetic travelogue, and the reference survey.

His paintings include Holy Family with Elizabeth and John 1819, Staadtische Galerie im Staadelschen Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt and A Visitation, Christ and the Samaritan c. 1820, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin.