
Claude Lorrain (c. 1600–1682) transformed landscape painting from mere background into the main subject of art. Born Claude Gellée in the village of Chamagne in the independent Duchy of Lorraine, he was orphaned around age twelve and eventually traveled to Rome. According to his first biographer, Claude trained as a pastrycook before studying painting under Agostino Tassi, a landscapist who specialized in illusionistic architecture. He spent about two years in Naples with Goffredo Wals, then briefly returned to his homeland before settling permanently in Rome by 1627, where he became part of the Baroque movement's Roman circle.
Claude's golden, light-filled landscapes idealized the Roman countryside, framing classical ruins and small figures within harbors, groves, and valleys bathed in atmospheric sunlight. He was among the first painters to depict the sun itself shining directly into the picture. By 1633 he had joined the Accademia di San Luca, and to protect against forgeries he began recording his compositions in the Liber Veritatis (Book of Truth), a visual catalogue of nearly every painting he made.
Though now considered French, Claude spent his entire career in Italy and was regarded during his lifetime as part of the Roman School. John Constable called him "the most perfect landscape painter the world ever saw." The National Gallery in London holds major works including Landscape with the Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca. The Louvre in Paris and Museo del Prado in Madrid also preserve significant collections.
15 paintings catalogued with museum locations

Claude Lorrain
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Claude Lorrain, 1648
National Gallery, London

Claude Lorrain, 1648
National Gallery, London

Claude Lorrain
Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO, St. Louis

Claude Lorrain
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Claude Lorrain
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Claude Lorrain
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston

Claude Lorrain
Dulwich Picture Gallery, London
Claude Lorrain
Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Berlin

Claude Lorrain
Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Sydney, Sydney

Claude Lorrain
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

Claude Lorrain
Museo del Prado, Madrid, Madrid

Claude Lorrain
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Florence

Claude Lorrain
Museo del Prado, Madrid, Madrid

Claude Lorrain
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
12 museums display Lorrain's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.


Paris, France
2 works on display


London, UK
2 works on display


Madrid, Spain
2 works on display

Florence, Italy
1 work on display

Amsterdam, Netherlands
1 work on display

Boston, USA
1 work on display
Berlin, Germany
1 work on display

St. Louis, US
1 work on display

London, United Kingdom
1 work on display

Fort Worth, United States
1 work on display

Los Angeles, United States
1 work on display

Sydney, Australia
1 work on display
Other Baroque artists you might like
Explore art inspired by Baroque.
Browse Collection