The Cheat with the Ace of Clubs

Georges de La Tour painted The Cheat with the Ace of Clubs around 1635. Four figures sit at a card table in an intimate interior. At left, a young man in a feathered hat studies his hand, unaware he is being fleeced. The cheat at center reaches behind his back to draw an ace from his belt.

A courtesan in a low-cut dress exchanges glances with the cheat, signaling the victim's cards. A maid pours wine to distract the dupe. Everyone in the work in on the game except the one about to lose. The elaborate costumes and sideways looks tell the story without words.

Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth holds this work. La Tour remained largely forgotten until the 20th century. The painting rewards attention to its psychological drama and moral warning about the costs of naivety.