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 |
| Woman Catching a Flea |
c.1638 |
oil,canvas |
| The Young Singer |
c.1640 - c.1645 |
oil,canvas |
| The Triangle Player |
|
oil,canvas |
| The Tears of St. Peter, also called Repentant St. Peter |
1645 |
oil,canvas |
| The Discovery of the Body of St. Alexis |
|
oil,canvas |
| The Dice Players |
1650 - 1651 |
oil,canvas |
| The Fortune-Teller |
c.1632 - c.1635 |
oil,canvas |
| The Hurdy-Gurdy Player, also called Hurdy-Gurdy Player with Hat |
c.1620 - c.1630 |
oil,canvas |
| The Hurdy-Gurdy Player with a Dog |
c.1622 - c.1625 |
oil,canvas |
| The Newborn, also called St. Anne and the Virgin in Linen |
|
oil,canvas |
| The Payment of Dues |
1630 - 1635 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Paul |
1615 - 1620 |
oil,canvas |
| The Denial of St. Peter |
1650 |
oil,canvas |
| The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds |
1635 |
oil,canvas |
| The Blind Hurdy Gurdy Player |
1620 - 1630 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Matthew |
1615 - 1620 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Jude Thaddeus |
1624 - 1650 |
oil,canvas |
| St. John the Baptist in the Desert |
1649 - 1651 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Jerome Reading |
1648 - 1650 |
oil,canvas |
| St.Jerome reading |
c.1635 - 1638 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Francis in Extasy, also called The Praying Monk beside the Dying Monk |
c.1640 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Andrew |
1615 - 1620 |
oil,canvas |
| Saint Jerome reading a letter |
1627 - 1629 |
oil,canvas |
| Repenting of St. Jerome, also called St. Jerome with Cardinal Hat |
1624 - 1650 |
oil,canvas |
| Repenting Magdalene, also called Magdalene in a Flickering Light |
1635 - 1637 |
oil,canvas |
| St. James the Minor |
c.1615 - c.1620 |
oil,canvas |
| Repenting Magdalene, also called Magdalene and Two Flames |
c.1638 - 1643 |
oil,canvas |
| Repenting Magdalene, also called Magdalene in a Flickering Light |
c.1635 - c.1637 |
oil,canvas |
| Payment of Taxes |
c.1620 |
oil,canvas |
| Old Woman |
c.1618 - 1619 |
oil,canvas |
| Old Man |
c.1618 - 1619 |
oil,canvas |
| Job Mocked by His Wife |
c.1632 - c.1635 |
oil,canvas |
| Girl with a Brazier |
1646 - 1648 |
oil,canvas |
| Education of the Virgin (detail) |
c.1640 |
oil,canvas |
| Education of the Virgin |
c.1640 |
oil,canvas |
| Boy Blowing at Lamp |
c.1640 |
oil,canvas |
| Blower with a Pipe |
1646 |
oil,canvas |
| Adoration of the Shepherds |
c.1644 |
oil,canvas |
| The Beggars' Brawl |
1620 |
oil,canvas |
| The Adoration of the Shepherds |
c.1644 |
oil,canvas |
| Tears of St. Peter |
1646 - 1648 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Thomas, also called Saint with a Pike |
1625 - 1630 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Thomas |
c.1615 - c.1620 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Simon |
1615 - 1620 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Sebastian with Lantern |
c.1630 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Sebastian Tended by St. Irene |
c.1649 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Philippe |
c.1615 - c.1620 |
oil,canvas |
| St. Peter |
1615 - 1620 |
oil,canvas |
| The Penitent Magdalen |
1638-43 |
Oil on Canvas |
| The Dream of St Joseph |
c. 1640 |
Oil on Canvas |
