How did Dutch and Flemish artists influence Claude Lorrain’s early work?

In his early period, Claude Lorrain’s work was characterized by a busy, animated, and picturesque style that reflected the influence of Dutch and Flemish artists, alongside his training under Agostino Tassi.1

These early paintings often featured a dark mass of foliage in the foreground contrasted with a misty, sunlit distance, a composition frequently populated by herdsmen and animals. Additionally, his smaller works painted on copper were notably influenced by the spirit of the German artist Adam Elsheimer, who was known for his atmospheric use of light and intricate detail. During this formative phase, Claude also socialized with other northern European artists residing in Rome, which helped shape the charming and surprising qualities of his early landscapes before he transitioned toward the more monumental and Classical style that defined his later career.12