Georges de la Tour

St. Sebastian tended by St. Irene - c.1634-1643       [Gemäldegalerie, Berlin]

Georges de La Tour was born on 13th March 1593 in the town of Vic-upon-Seille in Lorraine, France, the son of Jean de La Tour, a 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 seven children, of which Georges was the second. The children were raised in the wealthy surroundings of well-to-do artisans. Little is known of Georges education, training or early influences, but there is evidence that he had friends in the court of the Duke of Lorraine. In 1617, at the age of 24, he 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. In the same year, 1620, the 27-year old La Tour was apprenticed to Claude Baccarat. Around 1621-23, the Duke bought a painting by La Tour, and another one in 1624, 'St. Peter', which he 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, a son étienne, who would become an artist like his father, was born; then, in 1623, daughter Claude, in 1625, daughter Mary (the first), 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 (died 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 he is referred to as 'the noble George de La Tour'.

From 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 tended 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. In 1638, Lunéville was sacked and burnt, with 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 one thousand francs for some service (unspecified). From now on he 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. He immediately established good relations with La Tour and became his patron. He commissioned from the artist 'The Adoration of the Shepherds', and later he bought many paintings from La Tour, including 'The Discovery of the Body of St. Alexis' and 'St. Sebastian with Lantern'. On 15th January 1652, La Tour's wife, Diane, died. Soon after her, on 30th January, La Tour also died, deeply depressed.