
Claude LorrainFrench, 1600–1682May one see it?
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The owner is known. Whether it is on view today, the museum does not say, and we were not trained to guess.
1635–1638
Pope Urban VIII commissions four paintings
According to Baldinucci, Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio, impressed by the two landscapes Claude painted for him, recommended the artist to Pope Urban VIII; four paintings were made for the Pope in 1635–38, two large and two small on copper.
1637
The French ambassador buys two paintings
In 1637 the French ambassador to the Vatican bought two paintings from Claude, “View of the Roman Forum” and “View of a Port with the Capitol”, which are now in the Louvre.
late 1630s
Italy’s leading landscapist, with large fees
By the end of the 1630s Claude was established as the leading landscapist in Italy and enjoyed large fees; his landscapes gradually became larger but with fewer figures, more carefully painted and produced at a lower rate.
1639
Philip IV commissions seven paintings
In 1639 Philip IV of Spain commissioned seven paintings from Claude, now in the Prado, among them two landscapes with hermits.
1642
Gives up etching for painting
Claude was a skilful etcher but gave up etching for good in 1642, choosing painting.