Soldiers Playing Cards and Dice (The Cheats)
| Support Type: | Canvas |
| Paint Type: | Oil Paint |
| Current Location: | National Gallery of Art, Washington |
| Location History: | Borros de Gamançon, Périgeux, mid-1800s. private collection, near Bordeaux, by 1989;[1] (sale, Drouot Richelieu, Paris, 11 December 1989, no. 58, as Les tricheurs); Jacques Chevreux, Paris; purchased 17 November 1998 through (Eric Turquin, Paris) by NGA. [1] According to Pierre Rosenberg (see note in NGA curatorial files), the painting had been in the collection of Borros de Gamançon, who was a mayor of Périgeux in the 19th century, and it was likely his descendants who sold the painting in 1989. |
This remarkable Baroque painting was created around 1618-1620 by the French artist Valentin de Boulogne which strongly reflects the influence of Caravaggio. It portrays a group of soldiers gathered around a table playing a game of cards and dice within a dimly lit room. Five soldiers are positioned around a rectangular table in the composition; two men are absorbed in a card game while two others are playing a game of dice and the last soldier on the left side of the composition is standing behind one of the players, secretly signaling information to his accomplice. It reveals that cheating is taking place, turning a simple gathering into a tense drama. Only the viewers become an observer of a dishonest scheme which is unfolding before their own eyes. Valentin created a theatrical atmosphere by contrast; he left the background in darkness while illuminated the figures with a strong beam of light. Focusing on the expressions of each figures reveals concentration, suspicion, calculation, and anticipation. The painting presents the mercenary soldiers with weathered faces, rugged clothing, and mismatched pieces of armor reflects the realities of 17th century life. The color palette is dominated by earthy browns, deep reds, muted grays, and warm flesh tones, contributing to the painting's realism and seriousness. The painting is much more than a depiction of soldiers at leisure; it carries a moral message and warns us against carelessness, greed, and misplaced trust. It reflects the unpredictability of fortune and the dangers of human weakness.