Boom

1620s

Stops in Marseille, Genoa and Venice

On his travels Claude stayed briefly in Marseille, Genoa and Venice and had the opportunity to study nature in France, Italy and Bavaria.

1625–1627

Back to Lorraine: Nancy and Claude Deruet

At twenty-five Claude left Italy and made long journeys to France and Switzerland; in 1625–27 he lived in his homeland, in Nancy, and worked with Claude Deruet, court painter to the Duke of Lorraine, on the decoration of a Carmelite church. According to Baldinucci, he left Deruet’s studio comparatively soon, in 1626 or 1627.

c. 1626

Settles permanently in Rome, on the Via Margutta

By the end of 1626 Claude had settled permanently in Rome, in a house on the Via Margutta in the artists’ quarter, and spent most of his life in the city; there he joined the society of foreign artists known as the “Birds of Passage” (Bent vogels).

late 1620s

Meets Joachim von Sandrart

In the late 1620s Claude met Joachim von Sandrart, who would write one of his early biographies and lived with him for a while; Sandrart reported that Claude already had a habit of sketching outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk, and of making oil studies on the spot.

1633–1635

Growing fame: commissions from the French ambassador and Philip IV

Claude’s growing reputation was shown by commissions from the French ambassador in Rome (1633) and from Philip IV of Spain (1634–35).

1634

Admitted to the Academy of Saint Luke

In 1634 Claude was admitted to the Academy of Saint Luke.