Le pont de bois (The wooden bridge, Rebecca and Eliezer),

1638–41

One of the most respected painters in the history of Western art, Claude Lorrain found tremendous success with idyllic landscapes that emphasize the radiant effects of light and a sense of naturalism gained from his direct observation of
nature. Artistically trained in Nancy in the independent Duchy of Lorraine, Claude moved in 1625 to Rome, where he would remain for the rest of his life. His meticulously painted landscapes reveal the infl uence of the Dutch artists working
in Rome at the time—including Bartholomeus Breenbergh, whose work hangs on the left. Claude made only forty-four etchings in his career, and all but fi ve were created before 1641. The Wooden Bridge was one of these exceptions, etched at the height of his reputation, when the artist’s abilities had fully matured.
southern gates of the ancient Roman walls features the Pyramid of Cestius, a Roman tomb built in an Egyptian style that still stands today.