Johann Heinrich Baumann

Johann Heinrich Baumann (; 9 February 1753 – 29 July 1832) was a Baltic German artist who mainly lived and worked in what is today Latvia.

Early life and education Johann Heinrich Baumann was born in Jelgava into a German-speaking family. He was the son of the pastor and general superintendent of Mitau, Joachim Baumann.

University Baumann went to University of Erfurt to study theology in 1773–1776. However, in Erfurt he took up painting, under the influence of (1715–1778), a notable local painter specialising in animal portraits in the then-prevailing Baroque style. After his studies, Baumann returned to his Baltic homeland Courland but would henceforth pursue a career as an artist and not as a priest.

Travels Being a keen hunter, Baumann travelled as far as present-day Lithuania, Russia and Belarus on hunting expeditions.

Playwriting Baumann was also one of the first authors in present-day Latvia to write plays for the stage in Latvian.