The print Vier geiten by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) was executed between 1630 and 1633. This early work on paper showcases the artist’s skill not in his famous idealized landscapes, but rather in a focused study of nature. Although Lorrain is predominantly celebrated for his sweeping, atmospheric paintings of the Roman countryside, he also produced a substantial body of detailed graphic studies and prints documenting animals, trees, and architecture.
The subject of the work, consisting simply of four goats, suggests it was likely a preparatory sketch or a practice study intended for insertion into one of his elaborate pastoral scenes. The technical execution on paper indicates it is a delicate impression, capturing the textures of the animals with concise lines characteristic of 17th-century European etching techniques. Lorrain’s commitment to capturing the natural world, even in small details like these common farm animals, informed the verisimilitude of his grander compositions, which defined the classical landscape tradition for centuries.
Produced during the Italian Baroque period while the artist resided in Rome, this piece reflects the high value placed on drawing and graphic works as essential tools for composition. Today, this impression is part of the distinguished collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. As an important historical artifact, this print, along with many other works by Lorrain, is frequently digitized, allowing the images to become accessible through public domain initiatives for scholarly research and appreciation.
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