Origins & Early Life

Georges de La Tour (French pronunciation: [ʒɔʁʒ də la tuʁ]; 13 March 1593 – 30 January 1652) was a French Baroque painter, who spent most of his working life in the Duchy of Lorraine, which was temporarily absorbed into France between 1641 and 1648. He painted mostly religious chiaroscuro scenes lit by candlelight. Artist at the confluence of Nordic, Italian, and French cultures, and a contemporary of Jacques Callot and the Le Nain brothers, La Tour was a keen observer of everyday reality. His pronounced taste for the play of light and shadow on simplified forms makes him one of the most original successors of Caravaggio.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Recognised during his lifetime, he was quickly forgotten after his death. Rediscovered in the early 20th century by German art historian Hermann Voss, he later inspired writers as diverse as René Char, André Malraux, Pascal Quignard, and Charles Juliet. Georges de La Tour was born in the town of Vic-sur-Seille in the Diocese of Metz, which was technically part of the Holy Roman Empire, but had been ruled by France since 1552. Baptism documentation revealed that he was the son of Jean de La Tour, a baker, and Sybille de La Tour, née Molian. It has...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Jusepe de Ribera — Contemporary (Died in 1652) (1652): Master of Spanish Baroque painting, renowned for dramatic martyrdom scenes.
• Madame d'Aulnoy — Contemporary (Born in 1652) (1652): Pioneering French author, credited with coining the literary genre of fairy tales.
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