The Square Tower

The Square Tower is an influential etching created by the French Baroque artist Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) in 1637. Classified as a print, this work is a superb example of Lorrain’s technical skill, utilizing the challenging etching process to achieve nuanced detail and dramatic atmospheric effects. This particular impression belongs to the second state of two, as definitively cataloged by Mannocci, representing the artist’s refined vision for the composition.

Lorrain frames a monumental architectural setting typical of his idealized Italianate landscapes. The central focus is the titular Square Tower, an imposing structure of classical stone casting deep shadows across the composition. A sturdy stone sculpture stands prominently in the foreground, anchoring the scene and providing scale to the surrounding setting.

The composition is animated by small figures of men and women who are dispersed throughout the foreground and middle distance, emphasizing the romantic, bucolic atmosphere. These staffage figures reinforce the grand scale of the architecture. Above the ancient stonework, birds circle, contributing to the sense of depth and movement in the sky, a hallmark of Lorrain’s masterful treatment of light.

As one of the great masters of 17th-century landscape, Lorrain’s approach to light and atmosphere profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists. This fine example of his early graphic prints is permanently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its historical importance ensures that high-resolution images of the masterwork are frequently available in the public domain for academic study and appreciation.