Claude Lorrain (1600-1682). Family name Gelée. French landscape artist. He was the most important author of 17th century landscape paintings. He uncovered the beauty of different times of day - because of this, he painted landscapes with light from the west, east or in different weather conditions. Especially at the beginning, he enjoyed painting landscapes with distant views, distant horizons and elaborate details. In the more mature period of his life, he simplified his composition and tried to capture the atmosphere of the place. He painted pictures with tranquil views of the sea combined with monumental architecture (often ruins of ancient buildings - see his most famous painting The Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba), landscapes and vast groves, all in a poetic and harmonic spirit. His painting techniques had many followers and lasted until the onset of Impressionism.