Massacre of the Innocents, reduced and reversed copy after Aegidius Sadeler

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures the dramatic biblical scene of the Massacre of the Innocents, in which King Herod orders the slaughter of male infants in Bethlehem. The composition shows chaotic figures of soldiers, mothers, and children in a tightly framed space, emphasizing the horror and movement of the event. Created as a reduced and reversed copy after Aegidius Sadeler, it reflects the collaborative nature of printmaking in the early seventeenth century. Jacopo Tintoretto’s original design, known for its energetic Mannerist style and theatrical lighting, was adapted here into an engraving—a medium prized for its ability to reproduce intricate details and distribute images widely across Europe. Produced between 1600 and 1629, the print belongs to the period when reproductive engravings played a vital role in sharing major artworks beyond their original locations. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work highlights how printmakers like the Sadeler family helped preserve and circulate the emotional intensity of Venetian Renaissance compositions for new audiences.