The Massacre of the Innocents

Cranach employs a rich palette of earth tones punctuated by striking reds and blues, rendering fabrics and architectural details with meticulous texture. The use of chiaroscuro intensifies spatial depth, guiding the eye toward the central protective figure and enhancing the dramatic tension inherent in the tableau.

Executed in 1515, the painting reflects Cranach’s mature period, during which he frequently addressed biblical themes for both private devotion and public display. It entered the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has been conserved as part of the museum’s core collection of Northern Renaissance works.