Russ was born into a family of painters in 1847 in
Vienna. He studied at the
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna under
Albert Zimmermann, who led the department of
landscape art. Russ later taught landscape painting at the academy and was, in 1888, elected an honorary member of the Academy. He heavily influenced Austrian landscape painting toward the end of the 19th century, painting primarily Austrian and Italian landscapes. He died in Vienna in 1922. ==Selected paintings==