A dialogue between classical painting and contemporary art on the theme of nature, exploring the legacy and relevance of Nicolas Poussin.
According to Pierre Rosenberg, director of the Louvre and one of the foremost Poussin experts, Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) was the first painter to go beyond mere landscape painting to measure up against nature itself. Throughout his career, he transformed his vision, drawing on increasingly subtle and vibrant lyricism. His teachings became a model, and that 'sense of nature' was then passed on to generations of artists, from Gaspard Dughet to Joseph Vernet. And today? In an age marked by ecological anxiety, are there still artists capable of addressing nature with the same lyrical intensity?
This book takes up the challenge, weaving together classical masterpieces and contemporary works in a timeless dialogue. With essays by leading scholars and an unpublished work by Giulio Paolini, Le Sentiment de la Nature explores Poussin's legacy and its surprising relevance to contemporary art.
Published on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition curated by Guillaume de Sardes at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco in 2026.