Claude Lorrain: The Enchanted Landscape

Lovely exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum of the work of Claude Lorrain.

The exhibition was broken into three sections paintings, drawings and etches. I liked the fact that many of the paintings were hung in their original pairs to show the contracts he painted of sea and land, different times of day and subjects.

The drawings were a revelations as they were so well finished and really illuminated the imaginary processes behind the paintings.

My favourite things though had to be the Firework series of etchings which showed firework designs for the coronation of Ferdinand III as King of the Romans. These includes wonderful machines which split apart and fireworks came out. I think the London 2012 Opening Ceremony could learn a thing or two!

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