Artwork
Massacre of the Innocents
Massacre of the Innocents is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Valerio Castello. It dates from 1652 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Massacre of the Innocents is a 1652 oil painting by Valerio Castello, a prominent Italian Baroque artist from Genoa.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a chaotic and violent scene, showing figures in distress as they attempt to protect children from harm, set against a backdrop of a cityscape with buildings and columns.
Technique & Style
Castello's use of chiaroscuro, a technique characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, creates a sense of depth and heightens the emotional impact of the scene, evoking the influence of Caravaggio's innovative lighting.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a testament to Castello's significance as a leading Ligurian painter of his time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Valerio Castello (1624 – October 1659) born in Genoa, was an Italian painter of the Baroque period and one of the pre-eminent Ligurian painters of his time.
