Who painted massacre of the Innocents?

massacre of the Innocents was painted by Matteo di Giovanni in 1462.

Where can I see massacre of the Innocents?

massacre of the Innocents is held by Alte Pinakothek.

What movement is massacre of the Innocents?

massacre of the Innocents is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

massacre of the Innocents

Matteo di Giovanni , 1462

massacre of the Innocents is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Matteo di Giovanni. It dates from 1462 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates the biblical Massacre of the Innocents, a scene of King Herod's order to kill all male children under two years old in Bethlehem. This subject, drawn from apocryphal tradition, symbolizes the innocent victims of political tyranny and serves as a powerful allegory of suffering and divine lamentation.

Technique & Style

Executed in the early Renaissance style, it features precise linear contours and flat, symbolic color fields characteristic of Quattrocento religious art.

Matteo di Giovanni painted the Massacre of the Innocents in 1462 using tempera on wood panel. The work measures 150 cm in both height and width, adhering to a square format typical of devotional religious paintings from the period. Executed in the early Renaissance style, it features precise linear contours and flat, symbolic color fields characteristic of Quattrocento religious art.

The composition depicts the biblical slaughter of the Innocents with stark emotional clarity, rendered on a wooden support suitable for panel painting.

The painting's condition reflects careful preservation within the Alte Pinakothek's collection, maintaining structural integrity of the wood panel support while surface details remain largely intact.

History & Provenance

The painting is dated to 1462, a date supported by both the corpus record and the Wikidata entry, which gives an inception of 1462-01-01. It is attributed to Matteo di Giovanni as the creator. The work is identified as a copy of a painting by Matteo di Giovanni and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.

Overview

Massacre of the Innocents is a 1462 religious painting by Italian artist Matteo di Giovanni, housed at the Alte Pinakothek. The work visually interprets the biblical narrative of the same name through a dramatic and chaotic composition.

Context

Painted during the Italian Renaissance, the work reflects the period's interest in biblical narratives and the development of techniques like chiaroscuro to evoke emotional depth. The choice of subject may also speak to contemporary religious or political anxieties.

Legacy

While specific influences or notable exhibitions of 'Massacre of the Innocents' by Matteo di Giovanni are not provided, the painting contributes to the broader artistic and historical record of Renaissance interpretations of biblical themes.