How did the Liber Veritatis help protect Claude Lorrain’s paintings from forgery?

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Claude Lorrain: Ulysses Returns Chryseis to Her Father — Claude Lorrain *Ulysses Returns Chryseis to Her Father*, oil on canvas by Claude Lorrain, c. 1644; in the Louvre, Paris. 119 × 150 cm.

Claude Lorrain created the Liber Veritatis (Book of Truth) as a safeguard against the forgery of his paintings.1

Beginning in 1635–36, he compiled this volume to serve as an authoritative record of his work. The book contains 195 drawings that he carefully copied from his own finished paintings. To ensure the authenticity of his output, he noted specific details on the back of each drawing, including the name of the patron for whom the work was intended or the destination for which it was commissioned. In the latter half of the book, he also included the dates of the paintings. By maintaining this chronological, illustrated inventory, Claude provided a verifiable reference that helped distinguish his genuine works from unauthorized copies or imitations.1