View of Seaport 

Claude Lorrain made this atmospheric oil on canvas, *View of Seaport*, in France, likely in the 1630-40s. Lorrain specialized in landscapes that evoked an idealized classical past, a taste cultivated by the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, which promoted the idea that art should ennoble the mind. Here, we see Roman ruins, figures in classical garb, and ships sailing into the golden sunset. Lorrain isn’t just showing us a pretty picture, he’s crafting a vision of France as the new Rome, heir to its cultural legacy and imperial power. The light in the picture, which historians have linked to the so-called Golden Age of Dutch painting, illuminates the scene, adding drama and splendor to the composition. To fully understand Lorrain's work, scholars delve into the histories of artistic academies, the patronage systems of the French court, and the broader cultural aspirations of the period. Only then can we grasp the full meaning of paintings like *View of Seaport*.