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Georges de La Tour

• Baroque • Wikipedia: Georges de La Tour
113 artworks found

Georges de la Tour was a painter from the Duchy of Lorraine and is generally regarded as a representative of the French Baroque. de la Tour became famous for his paintings by candlelight, similar to the works of his painter colleague of almost the same age, Gerrit van Honthorst. Often de la Tour is also compared with the Dutch painter Hendrik Terbrugghen. However, unlike these artists, de la Tour's curriculum vitae has considerable gaps and leaves many open questions. To classify his works and put them in chronological order proved difficult in retrospect because there are no precise records. This may be one reason why the painter, who was so successful at the time, was almost completely forgotten after his death. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that his art was rediscovered. Among his most famous works are "The Penitent Magdalene", "The False Player with the Ace of Diamonds" or "The Soothsayer".

De la Tour was born in the then capital of the diocese of Metz, in the Duchy of Lorraine. There was no artistic background in his family. His father, as well as his grandfather, were bakers. How he finally came to paint is not documented. It is assumed that his first training was with an engraver from his home town, Alphonse de Rambervilliers. Since his paintings showed many influences from Caravaggio and his followers, it is possible that he may have travelled to Rome or the Netherlands to meet the painters of the Utrecht School during the course of his studies. What speaks against this thesis is that at this time the style of the Caravaggists was known almost everywhere and his followers, who had studied it in Rome, carried it out to their homeland. In Lorraine, for example, Jacques Bellange and Jean Leclerc were well-known artists who also practised the famous dramatic light and shadow effects of the caravaggists. It is therefore possible that de la Tour was influenced by them.

Georges de la Tour married Diane le Nerf, who came from a wealthy family, around 1617. Together they settled in their home town of Luneville from 1620, where he opened a studio. His career seemed to be successful from then on, for over the following years he repeatedly employed apprentices and assistants in his studio. By the end of his life he had many patrons and clients from high circles including Duke Henri II, Cardinal Richelieu and King Louis XIII, who awarded him the title of court painter. Although he was in great demand among the nobility, the bourgeoisie made up the majority of his clientele. With these commissions he could afford a certain prosperity and provide for his 9 children well. De la Tour died very young, shortly after his wife. Presumably both fell victim to an epidemic that was raging in Lorraine at the time and eventually wiped out the entire family. © Meisterdrucke

The Dice Players

Georges de La Tour

Undated | Oil on canvas

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The Dice Players

Georges de La Tour

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Georges de La Tour