Artwork
Massacre of the Innocents
Massacre of the Innocents is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Bartolo di Fredi. It dates from 1380 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1380 by Bartolo di Fredi, a painter associated with the Sienese School, this tempera work portrays the biblical Massacre of the Innocents. It belongs to the early Renaissance period and is part of the Walters Art Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition dramatizes the biblical episode in which soldiers slaughter infants in Bethlehem. Figures are shown in various states of terror and resistance, emphasizing the cruelty of the act and the desperate attempts of mothers and children to survive.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting displays the medium’s characteristic matte finish and fine brushwork. A vivid palette of reds, yellows, blues and greens heightens the emotional intensity, while the crowded, flattened space reflects the Sienese tradition of narrative detail.
History & Provenance
The panel has remained in the Walters Art Museum since its acquisition, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European medieval holdings. Its attribution to Bartolo di Fredi is based on stylistic analysis linking it to other works from his workshop.
Context
During the late 14th century, Sienese artists often depicted biblical tragedies with a focus on human suffering. This work aligns with contemporary devotional art intended to evoke empathy and moral reflection among viewers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolo di Fredi (c. 1330 – 26 January 1410), also called Bartolo Battiloro, was an Italian painter, born in Siena, classified as a member of the Sienese School.
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