Introduction

Landscape

Claude Lorrain produced a vision of landscape of a scope rarely attained before. This view was taken from a height overlooking a large plain in the campagna, or countryside around Rome. It is hard to say for certain whether it was done on the spot or in the studio, which is ultimately of little importance given Claude’s rendering of the essence of the observed landscape, presented in a vision as fresh as it is lucid and serene.
Claude Gellée, known as Claude Lorrain (1600 or 1604/05 – 1682)
circa 1660-65
Pen and brown ink, brown wash highlighted with white gouache on blue paper – H. 23.6 cm; W. 40.2 cm – Teylers Museum, Haarlem, inv. L 2 – Acquired by the Teyler Foundation in 1790
© Haarlem, Teylers Museum