Artwork
Card Players
Card Players is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist August Querfurt. It dates from 1736 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
August Querfurt’s *Card Players* (1736) presents a small group of four men absorbed in a card game. Rendered in the Rococo era, the composition places one figure seated on a bench while the others stand around a modest table bearing a deck of cards and a modest pile of coins. The background is rendered in muted darkness, emphasizing the interaction of the players.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of informal leisure among gentlemen dressed in contemporary 18th‑century attire, suggesting camaraderie and the social ritual of gambling. The inclusion of coins hints at the stakes of the game, while the relaxed postures convey a convivial atmosphere rather than moralizing commentary.
Technique & Style
Querfurt employs a restrained palette and clear modeling to delineate the figures against a subdued backdrop, a practice reminiscent of his Dutch and Flemish influences, notably Philips Wouwerman. The handling of light creates a modest chiaroscuro effect, highlighting the foreground activity while keeping the surrounding space simple and unobtrusive.
History & Provenance
Although primarily known for battle and hunting subjects, Querfurt produced genre works such as this piece. *Card Players* entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings, illustrating the artist’s occasional forays beyond his typical thematic focus.
Artist & collection
Artist
August Querfurt (1696, Wolfenbüttel – 1761, Vienna) was an Austrian painter. He painted primarily soldiers and battle scenes. He was first instructed by his father, Tobias Querfurt, a landscape and animal painter, and…
