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Two cheats conspire against a naïve young card player: one peeks at his cards while signaling to his accomplice, who reaches for hidden cards tucked in his belt.
Significance
This painting launched Caravaggio's career when Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte purchased it, becoming his first major patron. The theme of card cheats was enormously influential, inspiring paintings by Georges de La Tour, Valentin de Boulogne, and countless others.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
94.2 cm × 130.9 cm
Location
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, USA