About the artist:

Johannes Holst was a German artist known for his highly realistic paintings of ships in the open ocean. Capturing varying weather conditions, Holst’s detailed depictions of waves and clouds made his work highly sought after during his own lifetime. Born on October 22, 1880 in Hamburg, Germany, Holst was an apprentice in the decorative painting studio of Hinrich Lüdders. While working with Lüdders, Holst began to make paintings of small fishing boats, then sailing ships and later steamers. He was primarily influenced by the earlier naval painters Anton Melbye, Hugo Schnars-Alquist, and Jack Spurling. The artist died on July 5, 1965 in Hamburg, Germany at the age of 84.