Liber Veritatis

Collection of about 200 drawings by the French artist Claude Lorrain compiled by him from 1644 (Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, England). It was made up in book form as a souvenir of paintings he had disposed of, to guard against forgeries, and possibly containing some outlines for future paintings.

In the original book, each drawing has the painter's signature, generally a monogram C and L, sometimes with a date and a note on the subject. They were executed in pen and bistre, 70 being on tinted paper with highlights touched in with white.

Claude valued it highly and specially mentioned it in his will. From the Gellée family it passed through various hands and was bought by the Duke of Devonshire about 1770, having since remained at his family seat. It was reproduced in mezzotint and published in two volumes 1777, a third volume of drawings from other sources being added later.