Johann Gottfried Tannauer

Johann Gottfried Tannauer, or Dannhauer (1680–1733–37) was a German painter, portraitist and miniaturist who worked in Russia after 1711.

Early life He was born in 1680 in Saxony.

Career He began as a watchmaker in Swabia, then studied music, but finally turned to painting and worked with Sebastiano Bombelli in Venice. After that, he visited Holland, where he copied the works of Rubens and decided to specialize in portraits.

While working in Karlsbad, he was recommended to Tsar Peter I by the Czech painter, Jan Kupecký. This turned out badly for the Tsar and Tannauer, who lost all of his painting equipment.

Upon settling in Saint Petersburg, he painted portraits of most of the members of the Royal Court, including Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia, and other distinguished persons, such as Count Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy and Admiral Fyodor Apraksin. He also did historical paintings and repaired watches as a hobby.