Artwork
The Massacre of the Innocents
The Massacre of the Innocents is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Giovanni Francesco Romanelli. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli’s drawing *The Massacre of the Innocents* dates to circa 1635. Executed on laid paper, the work combines pen and brown ink with a brown‑blue wash, accented by white gouache. The composition presents a dramatic biblical scene rendered with the precision and clarity characteristic of Romanelli’s practice.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts the biblical episode in which King Herod orders the killing of newborn children in Bethlehem. Romanelli emphasizes the chaos and pathos of the event through densely packed figures and stark contrasts of light and shadow, inviting contemplation of the tragedy’s emotional intensity.
Technique & Style
Romanelli employs a layered approach: fine pen lines establish form, a brown‑blue wash deepens atmosphere, and selective white gouache highlights focal points. This method reflects the Baroque penchant for dynamic movement and chiaroscuro, while the use of laid paper provides a textured surface that enhances the drawing’s tonal range.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the collection of the Louvre, where several of Romanelli’s works are displayed. Its presence in the museum underscores the artist’s reputation in 17th‑century Italy and the continued scholarly interest in his contributions to Baroque drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (Viterbo, 1610 – Viterbo, 9 November 1662) was a major Italian painter of the Baroque period, celebrated for his use of bright, vivid colors and also for his clarity of detail.
Copy of Raphael's Massacre of the Innocents
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Massacre of the Innocents [recto]