Who painted Geoffroy de La Tour?

Geoffroy de La Tour was painted by Pierre Révoil in 1822.

Where can I see Geoffroy de La Tour?

Geoffroy de La Tour is held by Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.

What movement is Geoffroy de La Tour?

Geoffroy de La Tour is associated with French Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Geoffroy de La Tour?

Museum-quality prints of Geoffroy de La Tour are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Geoffroy de La Tour

Pierre Révoil , 1822

Geoffroy de La Tour is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Pierre Révoil. It dates from 1822 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.

About this work

Overview

Pierre Révoil’s 1822 oil on canvas, titled Geoffroy de La Tour, is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon. The work presents a somber tableau in which a fallen knight lies amid a rocky landscape, accompanied by a lion that appears lifeless. Figures in the distance, some armed, observe the scene, contributing to an overall mood of loss and desolation.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a defeated chevalier clothed in green, his helmet removed, suggesting vulnerability after combat. The adjacent lion, rendered as either sleeping or dead, reinforces the theme of fallen bravery. The presence of onlookers with weapons hints at a broader conflict, while the barren terrain underscores the isolation of the central figure’s defeat.

Technique & Style

Révoil employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated forms against deep shadows to model the figures and the craggy backdrop. The contrast enhances the three‑dimensionality of the knight’s armor and the lion’s musculature, while the muted palette of earth tones and subdued greens contributes to the painting’s melancholic atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Created in 1822, the painting entered the holdings of the Musée des Beaux‑Arts de Lyon, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s 19th‑century emphasis on French historical painting, and it continues to serve as an example of Révoil’s contribution to the Romantic revival of medieval subjects.