Saint Sebastian Tended by Saint Irene

Georges de La Tour and Studio

ca. 1638-39

Oil on canvas

Seattle Art Museum

Georges de La Tour's painting depicts a nocturnal scene of deliverance, showcasing his version of tenebrism with strong contrasts of light and dark. Georges de La Tour's painting depicts a nocturnal scene of deliverance, showcasing his version of tenebrism with strong contrasts of light and dark. De La Tour is often mentioned as one of the many followers of Carvaggio (ca. 1571-1610), the Italian artist who pioneered the use of strong contrasts of light and dark to heighten drama and religious feeling in his paintings. Though De La Tour probably never saw a work by Caravaggio, the innovative style spread across Europe, and the French artist first introduced his own version of "tenebrism" in this depiction of a nocturnal scene of deliverance. It was such a popular image that no fe