Massacre of the Innocents

Massacre of the Innocents

John Baptist Jackson

1739

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This chaotic scene shows a group of soldiers in armor attacking a crowd of people. Some are lying on the ground, others are reaching out in fear, and a few are being dragged away. The background has a crumbling wall and a dark sky with a few figures falling from above. The dramatic lighting and swirling movement make the scene feel urgent and violent. The artist used multiple shades of brown and gray to create depth and emotion. If you like this style, look up Baroque.

More by John Baptist Jackson

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app