La Tour Georges de old oil painting artist paintings France

Georges de La Tour
French Baroque artist
born 1593 - died 1652

Georges de La Tour was born on March 13, 1593 in the town of Vic-upon-Seille, in Lorraine. His baptism document indicates that Georges de La Tour was the son of Jean de La Tour, baker, and Sybille de La Tour, née Molian (or Malian). All Sybille’s parents and siblings were bakers. Jean’s father was a mason, but he, however, had chosen the profession of his wife’s relatives. Jean and Sybille had 7 children, Georges was the second one, the children grew in the wealthy surroundings of well-to-do artisans.

Where was George formed and what was his education, where did Georges de La Tour spend his youth? Maybe in Vic itself, where the Swiss painter Claude Dogoz lived, or maybe at Nance, at the studio of Jacques Bellange (died in 1616). Maybe Georges de La Tour traveled further from his house, even to Italy, but there is no evidence of it. We do not know where and who trained him. But there's evidence that young George had friends in the court of the Duke of Lorraine. In 1617, at the age of 24, Georges de La Tour married Diane Le Nerf, who was born in 1591 into an ennobled family: her father, Jean Le Nerf, was the treasurer of the Duke of Lorraine and lived in Lunéville. The young couple settled in Vic in the parental house.
In 1619, their first son, Philippe, was born, and the next year the family moved to Lunéville. The same, 1620, year the 27-year old La Tour was apprenticed to Claude Baccarat. It is known that around 1621-23 the Duke bought a painting by La Tour, and another one in 1624, St. Peter, which Georges de La Tour donated to decorate the church of the convent of Minimes. The same year the Duke died; with his death, military confrontations for the domination of Lorraine started among the European monarchs.
Meanwhile the family of the artist grew: in 1621 son Étienne, who would become an artist, like his father, was born; then, in 1623, daughter Claude, in 1625, daughter Mary (the 1st), in 1627, daughter Christine, in 1628, son Louis, in 1630, son Nicolas-George, in 1632, son André-George, in 1634, daughter Madeleine, in 1636, the second daughter Mary (d. in 1648), by this time the first Mary had died. The second Mary was the last child of the 45 year old Diane. In 1631, the war touched the family. La Tour became the guardian of his nephews Antoine and François Nardoyen, sons of his wife’s sister, whose husband died in the war.
At last in 1634, French domination of Lorraine was established, which brought peace, for at least a short period. The artist, along with other citizens of Lunéville, took a vow of loyalty to Louis XIII. In the document of the time Georges de La Tour is referred to as ‘the noble George de La Tour’.
It is known that since 1636, La Tour had his own apprentices. In that year the plague, which had effected the region of Lorraine particularly severely, came to Lunéville. It struck La Tour’s household as well, one of his nephews died. To this period many art historians refer St. Sebastian Attended by St. Irene. In the 17th century, St. Sebastian was one of the most important of all patron saints. Prayers were offered to him seeking protection against disease, especially the plague.- La Tour Georges de old oil painting artist paintings France- Bio La Tour Georges de old oil painting artist France - old oil painting artist La Tour Georges de and artist oil paintings old by France old oil paintings artists La Tour Georges.
In 1638m Lunéville was sacked and burnt, the house and studio of the artist with all its pictures were destroyed by fire. The family found shelter in Nancy.
In 1639, La Tour was in Paris by the king's order. The King presented him with 1000 francs for some service (what kind of service it was, is unknown). Though from now on Georges de La Tour was referred to as ‘Sir George de la Tour, painter of his majesty’. In 1645, the king appointed one Henri de La Ferté-Senneterre the governor of Lorraine. The new governor loved arts. Georges de La Tour immediately established good relations with La Tour and became his patron. Georges de La Tour commissioned from the artist The Adoration of the Shepherds. And later Georges de La Tour bought many paintings from La Tour, among others were: The Discovery of the Body of St. Alexis, St. Sebastian with Lantern.
On January 15, 1652 La Tour’s wife, Diane, died. Soon after her, on January 30, La Tour died, deeply depressed.

The titles of oil painting old master Georges de La Tour