5 September 1704
Birth in Saint-Quentin
Maurice Quentin was born in Saint-Quentin, the third son of François de La Tour — according to some accounts a writer, geographer-engineer and cantor of the town's collegiate church, according to others a musician in its service. From childhood he was drawn to drawing.
October 1719
Apprenticed to Claude Dupouch
In October 1719 — on the 16th, or by other accounts the 12th — fifteen-year-old Maurice is apprenticed to the painter Claude Dupouch, a member of the Academy of Saint Luke in Paris; it is not known when the contract was terminated.
25 May 1737
Approved (agréé) by the Royal Academy
On 25 May 1737 the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture officially recognises La Tour (agréé), and he soon attracts the attention of the French court.
August – September 1737
First Salon: President Rieux, a self-portrait, Madame Boucher
At the Paris Salon La Tour exhibits a huge full-length portrait of President Rieux, a self-portrait (“The Author Laughing”, Louvre) and a portrait of Madame Boucher, wife of the painter François Boucher. It is the first of a series of 150 portraits that remain one of the glories of the Salon for the next 36 years.
24 September 1746
Admitted to the Royal Academy
On 24 September 1746 La Tour is admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. He dreamed of making pastel the dominant portrait technique in the Academy and took on large formats, from half-lengths to full-length portraits.
17 February 1788
Death in Saint-Quentin
On 17 February 1788 La Tour dies in Saint-Quentin at the age of eighty-three, intestate, having revoked his earlier wills. His brother Jean-François, chevalier of the Royal Military Order of Saint-Louis, is the natural heir, and most of the artist's works are bequeathed by him to the town of Saint-Quentin.