Johann Wilhelm Preyer (July 19, 1803 – February 20, 1889) was a German still life painter of the Düsseldorf school of painting.

Born in Rheydt, Germany, Johann Wilhelm Preyer grew up in the old town area of Eschweiler.

[1] Both he and his brother were very small-statured, and in his youth Preyer occasionally took advantage of this by dressing as a child to play pranks.

Preyer painted mainly still lifes of flowers and fruit, and is today considered one of best artists in the genre in the 19th century, known for his minute and careful detail work.

He occasionally took private students, one of whom was the American still life painter Helen Searle.