FRIES, JOHANN. - Painter, b. at Friburgo ca. 1465, d. perhaps at Berna in 1518. He is one of the greatest Swiss artists, and his painting, still wholly oriented toward the expressionistic forms characteristic of the late Gothic, may be understood as the meeting point of new stylistic elements from northern Italy and Germany, with the latter predominating, especially in his earlier works.
In Switzerland F. is also particularly appreciated because the backgrounds of his compositions occasionally contain landscape elements plausibly inspired by reality, for which reason he is regarded as one of the first interpreters of the local landscape. Among his works are two panels in the Galleria di Schleissheim, originating from a large Last Judgment painted for the Council Hall in Friburgo, in which city F. had made an altar in the church of S. Giovanni with scenes from the life of the Saint. Other works by him are in the Museums of Basilea, Zurigo, Norimberga, etc.