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This painting, one of the most important and complex by Nicolas Tournier, was executed during the French artist's Roman period. However, there was a heated debate on whether it is attributable to Tournier or Bartolomeo Manfredi. Since the 170s, the attribution to Tournier seems to be accepted.
In the present painting Tournier created a detached and elegant genre scene, far removed from Manfredi's emotional involvement in his direct and somewhat rustic scenes. It revolves around the beautiful pagan altar that serves as a gaming table, the true focus of the composition.
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