How did Claude Lorrain’s ideal landscapes differ from Dutch landscape paintings of the same period?

Claude Lorrain’s "ideal landscapes" differed significantly from the landscape paintings produced by Dutch artists during the 17th century in their subject matter, composition, and underlying philosophy.

• Conceptual Focus: Claude practiced the "ideal landscape," a genre that sought to present a view of nature more beautiful and harmonious than reality itself. His works were rooted in Classical concepts, often featuring ruins of antiquity, pastoral figures in Classical or biblical dress, and mythic settings inspired by the Roman Campagna. In contrast, Dutch landscape painters, such as Jacob van Ruisdael, focused on capturing the distinctive features of their own environment, such as flatlands, broad skies, and muted light, often using these elements to express metaphorical ideas about humanity’s relationship with nature.123
• Composition and Light: Claude’s compositions were typically ordered and harmonious, often utilizing a "stage" foreground, a winding river, and atmospheric perspective to guide the eye toward the horizon. He was renowned for his poetic rendering of light, particularly the sun at dawn or evening. Dutch landscapes were frequently defined by their dramatic, often cloudy skies, which played a central role in setting the tone of the scene.12