Leseprobe

107 Nicolas Tournier Montbéliard 1590–1639 Toulouse The Guardroom c. 1620/1625 Oil on canvas; 169×239 cm First mentioned in the 1747–1750 inventory Gal. no. 411 Several soldiers have gathered around an ancient sarcophagus. A single light source outside the picture space illuminates the nine figures within but leaves the rest of the room dark. In the near-centre sit four card players, while to the right two men play dice, standing. These two figural groups are framed, left and right, by two soldiers in armour and a spectator in turban and beard. Tournier has selected a frieze-like arrangement, setting the players at almost the same head height and thus emphasizing the figures’ different expressions, states of mind, and characters. Like Valentin de Boulogne, Tournier worked in the Caravaggesque manner. His works are notable for their dramatic chiaroscuro, individuation through gesture, glance, and facial expression, as well as the figures’ realistic depiction with por- trait-like features. Tournier was active in Rome from 1619 to 1626, where he stud- ied the art of Caravaggios most important follower Bartolomeo Manfredi and his artistic environment. It is possible that Tournier was even active in Manfredi’s work- shop and appropriated his visual language. Together with Valentin de Boulougne, he brought Caravaggism to France.  |  iyw