The massacre of the innocents set against a townscape 1680 - 1740

Lodovico Mattioli's etching "The Massacre of the Innocents Set Against a Townscape" (1680-1740) depicts the biblical story of King Herod's order to kill all male infants in Bethlehem. The scene is chaotic and emotional, with soldiers attacking mothers and their children. The composition is dynamic and dramatic, with figures scattered across the foreground and a glimpse of a townscape in the background. The work is a powerful example of the Baroque style, characterized by its dramatic lighting, dynamic composition, and use of detail. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is home to this historic etching.