Landscape with Cephalus and Procris Reunited by Diana 1645

Claude Lorrain's "Landscape with Cephalus and Procris Reunited by Diana" (1645) showcases the artist's mastery of idealized landscapes. The painting, held in the National Gallery, London, depicts a serene countryside bathed in the soft light of dawn, with a distant cityscape and a winding river meandering through the foreground. The mythological narrative unfolds in the center, where the goddess Diana reunites Cephalus and Procris, a couple whose love was tested by jealousy and betrayal. Lorrain's masterful use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and tranquility, characteristic of his "ideal landscape" style, a genre that was popular in the 17th century.