Georges de la Tour (1593-1652) is considered as one of the great masters of French painting. His diverse works portray subjects from a range of social classes, in varying emotional states, with unwavering perspicacity. He has, however, remained an enigmatic figure, largely overlooked by scholars until the start of this century. The original hardcover edition of this book, published by Flammarion in 1993, was welcomed as the first noteworthy study of the painter in the English language. Since then La Tour's work has enjoyed a revival, including a major and highly acclaimed retrospective shown at the National Gallery, Washington in 1996. Jacques Thuillier's erudite and well-researched text goes someway to demystifying La Tour by placing his oeuvre in its artistic and political context, establishing a firm chronology and offering original insights into the painter's styles and techniques. The volume is sumptuously illustrated with over 300 plates, many of them full page enlargements from La Tour's most famous canvases. Available for the first time in paperback, this is an essential reference work for all art amateurs and scholars.