Dillis was one of the most interesting artists around 1800. After studying theology and being ordained a priest, he attended the Academy of Drawing in Munich and gave drawing lessons to aristocratic families. He was soon dispensed from his clerical duties. Dillis became art advisor to Crown Prince Ludwig and finally Central Gallery Director of the royal collections. He rarely painted large pictures, but produced numerous oil studies that are of outstanding freedom for their time. The large study with the unusual placement of the tree in the centre of the picture shows the legendary Untersberg near Salzburg.