Januarius Johann Rasso Zick was born in Munich in 1730 and studied painting with his father Johann who worked as a painter of frescoes. Zick went to Paris in 1757 and studied the works of Dutch masters before producing genre paintings under the influence of Watteau, notably in the treatment of silk dresses worn by women.
He then produced decors for the cabinets of the castle of Bruchsal in 1758, which were called the Watteau cabinets that were unfortunately destroyed during World War Two.
Zick traveled to Rome and settled near Coblenz from 1762 the year he became painter to the Prince-Elector. He was much productive as a painter of decors though not always at his best.
His best decors were produced in the church of Wiblingen from 1778 until 1780, in the church of Rot an der Rot in 1784, the church of Zell and the church of Oberelchingen.
He also painted some religious scenes but was more at ease with average size works. Still, he was better-known as a genre painter. He also painted several portraits as well as familiar or cabaret scenes. A member of the Academy of Augsburg, he died on November 14th 1797.
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