Claude Lorrain (1600-82), the "great French landscapist" as Janson puts it, was one of the foremost 17th century painters. He did, almost exclusively, landscapes and pastoral scenes. He is most noted for his unique representation of atmosphere in his paintings. His sunsets are considered by some to be some of the finest ever painted. It is also for this reason that Lorrain is discounted as a painter. Since his subject matter was relatively simple in a time when subject matter was key, he never got the respect that he might have garnered had he painted at a different time. I happen to believe that he was indeed a fine artist and one need only look at his work entitled A Pastoral to see what I mean.

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