Early Life and Training

Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), a French painter, draughtsman, and engraver, was born in 1600 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. According to contemporary sources, Claude's parents died when he was twelve years old, and he then lived with his elder brother in Freiburg.

Artistic Career

Claude spent most of his life in Italy, where he became a prominent figure in the Baroque era. He is now regarded as one of the earliest significant artists to concentrate on landscape painting. His landscapes often transitioned into the more prestigious genre of history paintings by the addition of a few small figures, typically representing a scene from the Bible or classical mythology.

• By the end of the 1630s, Claude was established as the leading landscapist in Italy, enjoying large fees for his work.
• His landscapes gradually became larger, with fewer figures, more carefully painted, and produced at a lower rate.
• Claude's innovative introduction of sunlight into many paintings had a significant impact on the development of landscape painting.

Notable Works and Legacy

Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée)'s prolific creation of drawings in pen and monochrome watercolour "wash" has been greatly admired, influencing other artists. His studies for paintings, often created on-site, are now regarded as an essential part of his legacy.

• View Claude Lorrain's Artworks at WahooArt
• Explore the British Museum's collection of Claude's Liber Veritatis, featuring 195 drawings recording finished paintings.

Museums and Collections

Notable Museums with Claude Lorrain's Works:

• British Museum
• Discover the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, a Cultural Treasure of New Brunswick, Canada (featuring works by various artists, including Claude Lorrain)

Important: For more information on Claude Lorrain's life and artworks, visit his page at WahooArt.

Early Life and Training

Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), a French painter, draughtsman, and engraver, was born in 1600 in the small village of Chamagne, Vosges, then part of the Duchy of Lorraine. His early life is shrouded in mystery, with two accounts of his apprenticeship emerging: one by Joachim von Sandrart's Teutsche Academie (1675) and another by Filippo Baldinucci's Notizie de' professori del disegno da Cimabue in qua (1682–1728). According to the more widely accepted account, Claude was apprenticed to Goffredo Wals in Naples and later to Agostino Tassi in Rome.

Rise to Prominence

By the end of the 1630s, Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) had established himself as the leading landscapist in Italy. His landscapes, often infused with small figures from biblical or classical mythology, commanded high prices. Notably, his introduction of sunlight into many paintings was a rare and innovative touch for that era.

Artistic Style and Legacy

Key Characteristics:

• Introduction of sunlight in landscapes
• Transformation of landscapes into prestigious history paintings through the addition of small figures
• Prolific creator of drawings in pen, monochrome watercolour "wash", and chalk under-drawings

Notable works include: Landscape with Peasants Returning with Their Herds (101 x 75 cm, Oil On Canvas, [https://WahooArt.com/@@/D4C6GQ-Claude-Lorrain-(Claude-Gellee)-Landscape-with-P..](https://WahooArt.com/@@/D4C6GQ-Claude-Lorrain-(Claude-Gellee)-Landscape-with-P..)) and Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba (148 x 194 cm, National Gallery (London, United Kingdom), Oil On Canvas, [https://WahooArt.com/@@/7Z3NF9-Claude-Lorrain-(Claude-Gellee)-Seaport-with-the-Emb..](https://WahooArt.com/@@/7Z3NF9-Claude-Lorrain-(Claude-Gellee)-Seaport-with-the-Emb..))

Later Life and Death

Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) passed away on November 23, 1682. His tombstone in the Roman church of San Luigi dei Francesi bears the inscription "Claude / Peintre de / Rome / mort / le 23 Novembre 1682" ([https://Wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Lorrain)). Today, his works are highly regarded by English collectors and can be found in various museums, including the National Gallery (London, United Kingdom) and the Art Gallery of South Australia (Adelaide, Australia).

Explore More

* [https://WahooArt.com/@/Claude-Lorrain-(Claude-Gellee)](https://WahooArt.com/@/Claude-Lorrain-(Claude-Gellee)): View more artworks by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) * [https://Wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Lorrain): Read the full Wikipedia article on Claude Lorrain * [https://WahooArt.com/Art.nsf/Timeline](https://WahooArt.com/Art.nsf/Timeline): Discover other artists and their contributions to the art world.