De kindermoord te Bethlehem

About this artwork

oil on canvas

Art Historical Context

In the dimly lit galleries of the Rijksmuseum Alessandro Magnasco's *De kindermoord te* (The Massacre of the Innocents in), painted between 1715 and 1740, captures a harrowing biblical episode from the Gospel of Matthew This oil-on-canvas work depicts King Herod's brutal order to slaughter infant boys in a desperate bid to eliminate the infant, a motif that has inspired artists from the Renaissance through the Baroque era. Magnasco, aoese master of the late Baroque, infuses the scene with his signature tenebrism—intense contrasts of light and shadow that heighten the chaos and tragedy. Measuring 65.5 x 83.5 cm, the canvas showcases Magnasco's distinctive technique: elongated, wiry figures rendered in loose, flickering brushstrokes, evoking a sense of eerie movement amid ruins and flickering torchlight. Active in Genoa and Milan, Magnasco blended religious drama with genre elements, often portraying monks or nocturnal visions in a mystical, almost supernatural style that bridged Baroque intensity and emerging Rococo whimsy. This painting exemplifies Magnasco's cultural impact in 18th-century Italy, where such emotionally charged history pieces served as moral reminders in churches and private collections. Its presence in the Rijksmuseum highlights the enduring appeal of Italian Baroque drama to Northern European audiences, inviting viewers to ponder the human cost of tyranny through its haunting, atmospheric power.

About the Artist

Alessandro Magnasco · 1667–1749

Comment on works: Religious