The Massacre of the Innocents with the Flight into Egypt, from "The Life of the Virgin"

Israhel van Meckenem|Hans Holbein the Elder

ca. 1500 · Engraving · Drawings and Prints

Israhel a practicing goldsmith, was also one of the most prolific and innovative fifteen-century masters of the related art of engraving. The Massacre of the innocents belongs to Van Meckenem's series of twelve prints depicting The Life of the Virgin. A gory scene takes place in the foreground in which the male children are run through with swords all around King Herod who is seated on a throne with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, the window in the upper right shows Joseph leading away the Virgin Mary and the Christ child. The series relates to paintings by the elder Hans Holbein, but it is likely that Van Meckenem contributed some of the lively detail to the scene.

Artist

Israhel van Meckenem|Hans Holbein the Elder

Date

ca. 1500

Medium

Engraving

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Martha Feltenstein, 2021