Georges de La Tour is a Baroque painter renowned for his luminous religious paintings. He was born in 1593 in Vic-sur-Seille, Lorraine, to a family of bakers. Initially trained as a painter by his father before going on to study with other artists, La Tour gained acclaim for masterfully manipulating light and shadow.
La Tour’s style was particularly influenced by Caravaggio’s use of chiaroscuro or the interplay of light and shadow in his works. His paintings often feature everyday people like peasants portrayed with great sensitivity and dignity.
His early masterpiece, The Fortune Teller from the 1630s, made him prominent in Upper Lorraine’s artistic circles. Although he spent most of his life in the Duchy of Lorraine – an independent state until temporarily absorbed into France from 1641-1648 – many regard him as one of France’s greatest painters.
Unfortunately, La Tour was forgotten after his death until the twentieth century when scholars discovered previously misattributed works. They were able to recognize that what had been perceived as Dutch painting was instead likely French and identified them as La Tour’s pieces.
In conclusion, Georges de La Tour remains significant not only for elevating everyday people through luminous religious scenes but also because rediscovered attributions continue to emerge several centuries after his passing.
All Georges De La Tour Artwork on Artchive
| Artwork Name | Year | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| St. Peter | 1615 - 1620 | oil,canvas |
| St. Philippe | c.1615 - c.1620 | oil,canvas |
| St. Sebastian Tended by St. Irene | c.1649 | oil,canvas |
| St. Sebastian with Lantern | c.1630 | oil,canvas |
| St. Simon | 1615 - 1620 | oil,canvas |
| St. Thomas | c.1615 - c.1620 | oil,canvas |
| St. Thomas, also called Saint with a Pike | 1625 - 1630 | oil,canvas |
| Tears of St. Peter | 1646 - 1648 | oil,canvas |
| The Adoration of the Shepherds | c.1644 | oil,canvas |
| The Beggars' Brawl | 1620 | oil,canvas |
| The Penitent Magdalen | 1638-43 | Oil on Canvas |
| The Dream of St Joseph | c. 1640 | Oil on Canvas |
