Artwork
Massacre of the Innocents
Massacre of the Innocents is an ink print by the Baroque artist John Baptist Jackson. It dates from 1739 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Massacre of the Innocents is a chiaroscuro woodcut created by John Baptist Jackson in 1739. It is a print made from four woodblocks on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chaotic scene of soldiers in armor attacking a crowd, with figures on the ground, reaching out in fear, or being dragged away, set against a backdrop of a crumbling wall and dark sky.
Technique & Style
Jackson employed chiaroscuro, using buff, gray, and two shades of brown to create depth and emotion, and subtle overprinting with oil-based inks to expand the color range, reproducing an oil painting rather than a drawing.
History & Provenance
Jackson, a British printmaker active in Paris and Venice, was known for his innovative color printing and embossing techniques.
Context
The dramatic lighting and swirling movement evoke a sense of urgency and violence, characteristic of the Baroque style.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Baptist Jackson (1701–1780) was a British artist, a woodcut printmaker of the eighteenth century.
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