Claude Lorrain

Claude Lorrain, born Claude Gellée in 1600 in the Duchy of Lorraine, was a prominent French painter associated with the Baroque movement. Renowned for his landscape paintings, Lorrain's work is characterized by its poetic depiction of light and atmosphere, which significantly influenced the development of landscape painting in Europe. He spent much of his career in Rome, where he became a leading figure in the artistic community and received numerous commissions from patrons across Europe. His innovative compositions and mastery of light earned him a lasting legacy, impacting artists such as J.M.W. Turner and the Hudson River School. Lorrain's meticulous studies of nature and classical ruins are evident in his works, which often feature idyllic pastoral scenes. He passed away in 1682, leaving behind a substantial body of work that continues to be celebrated for its beauty and technical skill.