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The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds
Georges de La Tour · Baroque & Dutch Golden Age
- Artist
- Georges de La Tour (1593–1652)
- Date
- c. 1636–1638
- Dimensions
- 106 x 146 cm
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds shows a card game in which a rich, naive young man is being swindled by three accomplices: a cardsharp, a courtesan and a servant pouring wine.
A closer look
The scene is a silent drama told entirely through glances and gestures. On the left, the cheat turns towards us and pulls an ace of diamonds from behind his back, letting us share the secret. In the centre, the courtesan, with a pale, oval face and a feathered turban, glances sideways at her servant, who brings wine to distract the victim. On the right, the elegant young man, absorbed in his cards, suspects nothing, a pile of gold coins in front of him. The painting warns against the three temptations of gambling, wine and lust.
