In the 17th Century, when France was undergoing a very difficult period due to the religious wars, the Lorraine region was an independent and wealthy state, governed by a sovereign duke, Charles III. On the route from Holland to Italy, the region was also an important artistic centre between 1600 and 1650. In addition to Georges de La Tour, artists such as Bellange, and later Jacques Callot, Le Clerc and Deruet built the artistic reputation of the dukedom.
