Johann Ridinger (Born 16th February, 1698) was born in Ulm, Germany. He died on 10th April, 1767 in Augsburg. He was an engraver, painter, publisher and draughtsman. Ridinger is considered one of the most celebrated engravers of animals in Germany, particularly engravers of hounds, horses and hunting scenes. Ridinger began his training in Ulm with Resch Christoph, the painter, and later studied under Falch Johann in Augsburg. He loved art from a tender age and he knew early enough that he would be an artist. When he started working as an artist, he produced so many high quality works of art that attracted his viewers. The feedbacks he got from the viewers and from art critics really kept him motivated. He learned the art of engraving from Rugendas Philipp Georg.
On the invitation of Freiherr von Wolf, Metternich, Ridinger spent 3 years in Regensburg under professional guidance: his visits to the riding school and coursing there proved crucial for his development. Once he began working as a professional artist, he never looked back, and he never feared to venture into projects that other artists shied away from. His scratched, etched and engraved sheets show the animals in their natural positions and movements in their landscape environment and in their natural state. This made his artwork to look very realistic. The dramatic and animated movements in his works reflect undoubtedly the Rococo stylistic tendencies. While in Augsburg, the artist later founded his own art publishing house, where most of his works appeared.
