A Life Shaped by Rome and Lorraine Born in Nancy within the Duchy of Lorraine, Claude Charles began his path under the guidance of Jean-George Gérard in Épinal. This early training in religious scenes provided the foundation for a much larger ambition. At only sixteen years of age, he departed for Rome, a move that would fundamentally alter the course of his brushwork. For nine years, he immersed himself in the Roman art scene, labori…