Harbour with a Large Tower

Harbour with a Large Tower is an etching created by the French Baroque master Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) between 1636 and 1646. As a rare print within his celebrated oeuvre, this piece showcases Lorrain’s exceptional skill in utilizing acid and needle to capture detailed architectural forms and vast atmospheric space. Known primarily for his idealized landscapes and seascapes painted in Rome, Lorrain frequently depicted busy, dramatic port scenes that emphasized light, shadow, and the scale of human endeavor against monumental classical ruins.

The composition is anchored by the imposing presence of the title’s Large Tower, an architectural element typical of Roman coastal fortifications, which casts dramatic shade across the harbor entrance. The foreground is alive with the details of maritime commerce and activity; various boats and ships are moored alongside the dock, while groups of men are depicted loading cargo, repairing vessels, or congregating along the waterfront. Lorrain carefully delineates the figures and rigging, balancing the static mass of the tower with the fluid energy of the harbor setting.

This specific impression is cataloged as the third state of six (Mannocci), illustrating the progressive adjustments Lorrain made to the copper plate to refine shading and tonal depth. The focus on coastal scenes and classical buildings defined Lorrain’s international reputation and profoundly influenced subsequent generations of landscape artists. This historical work is held in the permanent collection of European prints and drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As an important piece of historical art, prints and high-resolution images are often made available through museum and public domain archives, allowing broad study of the master’s unique etching technique.