1824
oil
canvas
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Massacre of the Innocents is a 1824 oil by François-Joseph Navez, a Neoclassicism work, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This painting depicts a chaotic scene of women and children in distress. In the foreground, a woman in a yellow dress cradles a child, while another woman in a green dress reaches out to touch the child's chest. A young girl in a blue dress kneels beside them, holding a cloth and a bowl. The background is dark and indistinct, with hints of a cityscape and a blue sky. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of drama and tension, with strong contrasts between light and dark. The women's facial expressions convey a sense of fear and despair. To learn more about this painting, explore the work of artist François-Joseph Navez.
François-Joseph Navez (16 November 1787 – 12 October 1869) was a Belgian Neoclassical painter; known for his portraits and genre scenes.
See the richer artist page
