Claude Lorrain
Baroque landscapist who pioneered sunlight in painting.
Claude Lorrain (c. 1600 – 23 November 1682) was a painter, draughtsman, and etcher of the Baroque era, originally from the Duchy of Lorraine. He spent most of his life in Italy and is one of the earliest significant artists to concentrate on landscape painting, often transitioning landscapes into history paintings by adding small figures from the Bible or classical mythology. By the end of the 1630s, he was established as the leading landscapist in Italy, and his work later became highly popular with English collectors.
- born
- c. 1600 (tombstone); c. 1604 or 1605 per contemporary sources
- died
- 23 November 1682
- field
- Painting, drawing, etching
- nationality
- French (born in independent Duchy of Lorraine)
- known_for
- Landscape painting, introducing sun and streaming sunlight into paintings, Liber Veritatis
Lore & Background
Claude Lorrain was born Claude Gellée in the small village of Chamagne, Vosges, then part of the Duchy of Lorraine. He was the third of five sons of Jean Gellée and Anne Padose. Early biographies by Joachim von Sandrart and Filippo Baldinucci differ on his youth: Baldinucci says his parents died when he was twelve and he lived with an elder brother who taught him drawing; Sandrart claims he was apprenticed to a pastry baker and traveled to Rome as a cook, later becoming an apprentice to Agostino Tassi. Modern scholars generally prefer Sandrart's account or combine both. Claude was apprenticed to Goffredo Wals around 1620–1622 and to Tassi from circa 1622/23 to 1625. He briefly returned to Lorraine to train with Claude Deruet, then settled in Rome on the Via Margutta for the rest of his life.
Reader's Guide
Claude Lorrain's significance lies in his role as a pioneer of landscape painting at a time when history painting was considered more prestigious. He introduced the depiction of the sun and streaming sunlight into many paintings, a rare feature before his time. His Liber Veritatis, a volume of 195 drawings recording finished paintings, served as a catalog and influenced later artists. Though not generally an innovator in landscape painting aside from sunlight, his work became highly sought after by English collectors after his death, and the UK retains a high proportion of his works. His drawings, especially on-site sketches, have been greatly admired and influenced other artists. He was prolific in pen and monochrome watercolor wash, and his etchings, though now considered less important, served various purposes. His frescoes from early career, which helped make his reputation, are nearly all lost.
Did You Know?
- Claude Lorrain's tombstone gives 1600 as his birth year, but contemporary sources indicate circa 1604 or 1605.
- He never married but adopted an orphan child, Agnese, in 1658, who may have been his own daughter.
- He produced over 40 etchings, mainly simplified versions of paintings, mostly before 1642.
- His remains were moved in 1840 from Trinita dei Monti to San Luigi dei Francesi.
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