Liber Veritatis. Or a Collection of Two Hundred Prints, after the original designs of Claude le Lorrain (...)

About this artwork

Vanaf 1774 publiceerde John Boydell tweehonderd prenten naar het tekeningenboek Liber Veritatis van Claude Lorrain, in het bezit van de hertogen van Cavendish. Deze prenten werden vanaf 1777 in twee volumes gebundeld uitgegeven.

Art Historical Context

Richard Earlom's *Liber Veritatis. Or a Collection of Two Prints, after the original designs of Claude leorrain* (1776) is a exquisite etching measuring 207mm by 258mm, part of a celebrated series reproducing the renowned sketchbook of the 17th-century French master Claude Lorrain. Claude's *Liber Veritatis*Latin for "Book of Truth"—comprised detailed drawings of his own paintings created to authenticate his works against forgeries. Earlom, a skilled English printmaker, faithfully captured these luminous, atmospheric landscapes using etching techniques that preserved Claude's idyllic visions of classical ruins, serene harbors, and golden light. Published by the influential London print dealer John Boydell from 1774, the series totaled 200 prints drawn from Claude's original book, then owned by the Dukes of Cavendish. Bundled into two lavish volumes starting in 1777, it democratized access to Claude's genius for 18th-century collectors and artists, bridging Baroque mastery with the emerging Romantic appreciation for nature. This print exemplifies reproductive printmaking's golden age, where etching's precision allowed intricate linework to evoke Claude's poetic idealism. A testament to artistic legacy, it invites visitors to ponder how one era's innovations preserved another's timeless beauty.

About the Artist

Richard Earlom · 1728–1794

Richard Earlom (1743–1822) stands as one of the supreme masters of mezzotint engraving in British art history, whose technical virtuosity and dedication to reproductive printmaking brought the works of Old Masters to unprecedented audiences. Born in London on May 14, 1743, Earlom spent his entire career transforming paintings and drawings into prints of extraordinary quality, elevating reproductiv...