Claude-Joseph Vernet

Claude-Joseph Vernet (1714-1789) was a French painter known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. Vernet was introduced to seascapes during a lengthy stint in Italy, which started as a study trip but was greatly extended as his works became popular among French diplomats, Italian nobility and Britons on the Grand Tour. Upon returning to his homeland, Vernet was commissioned by the government of Louis XV to create a series entitled Ports of France; these monumental works depict seaports across the country and are among his most famous works. Vernet's paintings are characterized by their realist slant, along with an attention to the interaction between humankind and nature.