Johan Ross the Elder

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Johan Ross the Elder (1695 – March 26, 1773) was a Swedish church painter. He was born in Meldorff, Schleswig-Holstein. His father, also named Johan Ross, was a painter and taught him the craft.

Ross is first mentioned in 1721 as a journeyman in Gothenburg’s Arts and Painters Guild and also as a journeyman working in Hamburg. When his request to join the Gothenburg guild was refused, he moved to Stockholm in 1730 to continue painting. In the 1730s he carried out many works in the Gothenburg area, including the large project at Lundby main church in 1730. He also worked in Askim in 1732 and in Örgryte in 1736, painting window frames and decorative boards.

The Gothenburg artists initially viewed him with suspicion, but in 1737 he was invited to join the guild under its regulations and was named “Painter in Gothenburg” on July 9, 1737. He was an alderman of the Gothenburg painters guild from 1744 to 1767, then retired.

Ross married Helena Sibuelen in June 1751. His son Johan Ross the Younger (1723–1767) became a master painter in Gothenburg. His daughter-in-law Maria Ross Carowsky (1723–1793) married church painter Michael Carowsky (1707–1745). His granddaughter Christina Elisabeth Carowsky (1745–1797) was also an artist. He was the brother of Ditloff Ross (1706–1764), a church painter in Borås.

Some of Ross’s works have been lost, including church paintings at Landvetter (1732), Askim (1734), Partille (1753), and Backa (1759). Surviving works include altarpieces at Östad kyrka and Öjared chapel (both dating from 1729). The ceiling paintings in Örgryte gamla kyrka are believed to be from around 1740, made by Ross with his son-in-law Michael Carowsky assisting. The church belongs to Örgryte parish in Gothenburg.

A bust in the Museum of Gothenburg is thought to be a self-portrait. Ross was also an art collector. His 1749 estate listed about 100 paintings and 700 prints, including works by Rubens and Rembrandt. Many items were likely his own or acquired through purchase, exchange, or inheritance. The collection gave him rich material to study different styles and colors.