The Massacre of the Innocents Portraits When Jupiter was born

When Jupiter was born

According to Robinson

the discoloured varnish was carefully removed

signed and dated 1633

was probably carefully worked out in the early 1630s until the artist was happy with the final composition

The Massacre of the Innocents Portraits When Jupiter was bornThe subject is from Matthew II, 16 18: having learnt from the wise men of the birth in Bethlehem of the King of the Jews, Herod ordered that the young children of the city be put to death. The picture was begun in 1647, or shortly after, but was left unfinished probably until the mid 1660s, when it was completed for Gdon du Metz, keeper of the Royal Treasury. There are several preliminary drawings in the Louvre.