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An image of Pastoral landscape

Claude Lorrain

(France 1600–1682)

Title
Pastoral landscape
Other titles:
Diamond Claude
Year
1636-1637
Media
Painting
Medium
oil on copper
Dimensions
27.9 x 34.7cm panel; 43.1 x 50.0 x 6.0cm frame
Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Gift of James Fairfax AO 1992
Accession number
208.1992
Location
15th–19th c European art
Further information

Known as the 'Diamond Claude' by virtue of its faceted format, this exquisite painting on copper is one of a clutch of such works executed by the celebrated classicist. Claude Gellée was born in Lorrain, but spent most of a productive life in his beloved Italy, especially Rome and its pastoral environs exemplified in the Campagna. Initially inspired by northern artists active in that city, Elsheimer and Bril for example, Claude became fluent in the idealising vocabulary of Bolognese painters such as Domenichino. Behind his Arcadian landscapes lay a reliance on forms and relationships found in nature, especially the varied effects of natural light which are his hallmark. 'Pastoral landscape', with its lakeside setting, predicts the great seaport subjects of his maturity - works that profoundly influenced the romantic Turner. Claude's wider influence on subsequent landscape traditions in Europe is inestimable.

AGNSW Handbook, 1999.

Provenance
James Oswald Fairfax AC (Australia, b.1933), 1973-09 Jul 1992, Bowral/New South Wales/Australia, Gift of James Fairfax 1992. Purchased by James Fairfax from Agnew's 1973.
Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), 29 Nov 1968-1973, London/England, Purchased by Agnew's at Christie's London, 29 November 1968, lot no. 74. Sold to James Fairfax 1973.
George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington (Scotland, d.1986), 1952-29 Nov 1968, Scotland, by descent from Lady Binning to her son George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington, Mellerstain. Sold Christie's London, 29 November 1968, lot no. 74.
Lady Binning (England, d.1952), 1909-1952, England, by descent from George Salting to his niece Katherine Augusta Milicent Salting (only child of George Salting's brother William Severin Salting) who married George Baillie-Hamilton, Lord Binning (1856-1917).
George Salting (Australia; England, b.1835, d.1909), 1908, London/England
Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), 1907-1908, London/England, Purchased by Agnew's from John Chapman Walker 1907
John Chapman Walker (England), circa 1882-1907, Whitby/England, by 1882, lent to 'Exhibition of Works by Old Masters' Royal Academy 1882
Cockburn, post 11 Jun 1860, Purchased at Christie's London, 11 June 1860, lot no. 136, 300gn. The price and buyer are recorded in an anotated copy of the sale catalogue in the National Gallery Library, London.
Samuel Woodburn (England, b.1780, d.1853), London/England, [dealer] his estate sale Christie's London, 15-19 and 23-25 May 1854, 7th day, 24 May 1854, lot no. 844, bought in, 460gn 'From the Swedish Minister's Collection'. His sale, Christie's London, 9 and 11 June 1860, 2nd day, lot no.136, purchased by Cockburn, 300gn. The price and buyer are recorded in an anotated copy of the sale catalogue in the National Gallery Library, London.
Count Carl Gustav Tessin (Sweden, b.1695, d.1770), Sweden, Probably Count Carl Gustav Tessin, Swedish Ambassador to Paris 1739-43, and collector.
Bibliography (25)

Great philanthropists on trial : the art of the bequest (2006), Andrew Grimwade (Australia) (Editor), Gerard Vaughan (Australia) (Editor), The Miegunyah Press (Australia), Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (Australia, estab. 2002), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The Australian Financial Review (14 Sep 2006), Editor Unknown (Editor), John Fairfax & Sons (Australia), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The James Fairfax collection of old master paintings, drawings and prints (2003), Richard Beresford (England; Australia) (Author), Peter Raissis (Australia) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Look (Apr 2003), Jill Sykes (Australia) (Editor), 10pm [print management] (Australia), Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.

Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook (1999), Bruce James (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Director), Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia), Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Great gifts, great patrons: an exhibition celebrating private patronage of the Gallery (1994), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections (1994), Ewen McDonald (Australia) (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Bollettino d'arte [vol. 78] (1993), Editor Unknown (Editor), Rome, Italy.

Gazette des Beaux-Arts (Mar 1993), Editor Unknown (Editor), Publisher unknown, Unknown.

Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 1992 (1992), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The James Fairfax collection of old masters (1992), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Tout l'oeuvre peint de Claude Lorrain (1986), Marcel Roethlisberger (b.1929), Doretta Cecchi, Publisher unknown, Paris, France.

Claude Lorrain (1600-1682): an exhibition of paintings and drawings, partly from private collections, to mark the artist's tercentenary (1982), Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), London, England.

A Dealer's record: Agnew's 1967-81 (1981), Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), London, England.

Claude Lorrain, Liber veritatis (1978), Michael Kitson, British Museum Press (England), London, England.

'Private treasures': an exhibition of art from Australian private collectors covering a period of five centuries (1978), David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney (Australia, estab. 1928), David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney (Australia, estab. 1928), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

L'opera completa di Claude Lorrain (1975), Marcel Roethlisberger (b.1929), Doretta Cecchi, Rizzoli Editore (Italy), Milan, Italy.

Paintings and drawings from Agnew's, London (1973), David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney (Australia, estab. 1928) (Author).

Claude Lorrain: the drawings (1968), Marcel Roethlisberger (b.1929) (Author), Berkeley University Press, San Francisco, California, United States of America.

Claude Lorrain: the paintings (1961), Marcel Roethlisberger (b.1929) (Author), Zwemmer (England), London, England.

The Burlington Magazine (Jan 1959), Editor Unknown (Editor), Burlington Magazine Publications Ltd. (England), London, England.

A century of loan exhibitions, 1813-1912 (1913-1915), A. Graves (Author), A. Graves, London, England.

Catalogue of Mr Goerge Salting's collection of pictures ([1910]), Author Unknown, Publisher unknown.

Catalogue of the collection of pictures and drawings of the late Mr George Salting (1910), Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817) (Author), Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), London, England.

Exhibition of works by old masters (Winter 1882), Royal Academy of Arts (England, estab. 1768), Royal Academy of Arts (England, estab. 1768), London, England.

Exhibition history (8)

Claude Lorrain (1600-1682): an exhibition of paintings and drawings, partly from private collections, to mark the artist's tercentenary, (09 Nov 1982–10 Dec 1982), at Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), 43 Old Bond St London, England W1X4BA.

'Private treasures': an exhibition of art from Australian private collectors covering a period of five centuries, (10 Jan 1978–21 Jan 1978), at David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney (Australia, estab. 1928), 7th Floor Elizabeth Street Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.

The James Fairfax collection of old master paintings, drawings and prints, (17 Apr 2003–20 Jul 2003), at Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Art Gallery Rd Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.

Great gifts, great patrons, (17 Aug 1994–19 Oct 1994), at Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Art Gallery Rd Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.

The James Fairfax collection of old masters, (25 Apr 1992–14 Jun 1992), at Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Art Gallery Rd Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.

Paintings and drawings from Agew's, London, (28 Mar 1973–19 Apr 1973), at David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney (Australia, estab. 1928), 7th Floor Elizabeth Street Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.

Catalogue of the collection of pictures and drawings of the late Mr. George Salting, (Jan 1910–Jan 1910), at Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), 43 Old Bond St London, England W1X4BA.

Exhibition of works by old masters, (Winter 1882–Winter 1882), at Royal Academy of Arts (England, estab. 1768), Burlington House The Mall London, England.