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Lost Masterpiece Rediscovered: 'The Dice Players' Returns Home
22 Mar
Summary
- A 17th-century painting, 'The Dice Players', is back on display.
- It was discovered in an attic after decades of being hidden.
- The artwork was recently loaned to a museum in Paris.
Georges de La Tour's 17th-century painting, 'The Dice Players,' is once again gracing the walls of Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees. This significant artwork, created around 1650, had remained undiscovered in the museum's attic for decades after its donation in the 1930s.
Its importance was not realized until approximately 40 years post-donation, during a routine inventory check. The painting depicts a tense, candlelit game, showcasing de La Tour's signature dramatic use of light.
Recently, 'The Dice Players' was on loan to the Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris, captivating international audiences. Following its return, a specialist conservator performed minor conservation work, including the frame.
This masterpiece, bequeathed by Annie Elizabeth Clephan, was officially recognized in 1972 when its significance was unearthed during a valuation. Its loan to other institutions has been noted as beneficial for raising the profile of Stockton's collections.
