Massacre of the Innocents

4th Quarter of 16th Century, Copy after: Pieter Bruegel d. Ä.

 

 

Massacre of the Innocents

Due to minimal errors and omissions as well as an age test conducted on the wood, and despite its high quality, this picture is considered a copy made by the artist’s son of a picture by the father. Both examples were previously to be found in the collection of Emperor Rudolph II. The biblical subject of the infanticide ordered by Herod is relocated by Bruegel to a snowy Flemish village. The event is brought up to date to resemble a contemporary penal expedition due to the clothing, as the troops on horseback with their red tunics were a kind of police unit. Inv.-Nr. GG 1024

Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Saal X

Object data

Object Name

Painting

Culture

Netherlandish; Flemish

Dated

4th Quarter of 16th Century

Copy after

Pieter Bruegel d. Ä. (um 1525/30 Breugel oder Antwerpen? - 1569 Brüssel) - GND

Attributed to

Pieter Brueghel d. J. (fraglich) (um 1564/65 Brüssel - 1638 Antwerpen) - GND

Material

oak wood

Dimensions

Overall: 116 cm × 159,7 cm × 3,5 cm
Framed: 135 cm × 178,2 cm × 6 cm

Signed

signed fragmentary at lower right: BRVEG

Image rights

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie

Inv. No.

Gemäldegalerie, 1024

Provenance

1610-1619 Vienna, Neue Burg; 1748 from the treasury to the gallery

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