Jean-Michel Cels: A Master of Atmospheric Landscape Painting Jean-Michel Cels (1819 – 1894) stands as a pivotal figure in Belgian landscape painting during the Romantic era, renowned for his masterful depictions of cloud formations and their profound impact on serene landscapes. Born in The Hague to fellow painter Cornelis Cels—who instilled in him an early passion for artistic expression—Cels’s lineage ensured he would inherit a legacy steeped in artistic tradition. Alongside his brother, Josse Cels, architect, Jean-Michel cultivated a multifaceted intellectual life, shaping his artistic vi…