Pieter Brueghel the Elder (copy). The Massacre of the Innocents

1924

unspecified

From the collection of Catholic University of Leuven

Dominant colour

Pieter Brueghel the Elder (copy). The Massacre of the Innocents is a 1924 unspecified by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, held at Catholic University of Leuven.

Who painted this?: Pieter Brueghel the Elder
When & what style?: 1924
Where can I see it?: Catholic University of Leuven

About this work

This painting shows soldiers in red coats smashing doors and dragging screaming children away. It’s a dark scene from the Bible, but the soldiers wear 16th-century armor and helmets. The artist hides the violence in small details. Look close: a mother clutches her baby behind a broken chair while a soldier yanks a cradle. The colors stay cold and gray except for the red coats, which stand out like fire. If you like this artist’s sharp eye for hidden drama, try Pieter Brueghel I.