Baroque · c. 1595
The Cardsharps
A well-dressed young player studies his cards while two cheats work around him. Caravaggio makes the trick obvious to us and invisible to its target.
- Made
- c. 1595
- Style
- Baroque
- Collection
- Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
From museum to game table
The in-game crop
The card adds paint spaces, rewards and a frame. This crop shows the artwork area used during play, without the card rails.
The short history
What happened here?
Caravaggio painted this early in his Roman career. The scene helped establish his reputation and attracted the patronage of Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte.
The older cheat signals the victim's cards through a torn glove. His partner reaches behind his back for a hidden card. Every costume detail supports the deception.
The Kimbell painting was rediscovered in 1987 after its authorship had been forgotten. Technical study and documentary evidence supported its acceptance as Caravaggio's original composition.
Look closer
Three details worth finding
- 1The accomplice's split glove
- 2Extra cards tucked behind the young cheat
- 3The victim's open, unguarded posture
Sources
Read further
Museum records come first. Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons provide useful public background and image records.