The Massacre of the Innocents (Le massacre des innocents) by James Tissot

The Massacre of the Innocents (Le massacre des innocents) - James Tissot - Oil Painting

Product Overview

For collectors searching fine art oil painting, The Massacre of the Innocents (Le massacre des innocents) is a dependable choice. Painted in layered oils on canvas after James Tissot, this timeless work reads equally well as classic canvas wall art and as a thoughtful housewarming gift.

The Story Behind the Painting

1886-1894
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum, United States.

Herod learned of the birth of the Christ Child from the Magi, who sought Jesus and called the infant the King of the Jews. As the ruler of Judaea appointed by the Romans, Herod felt his authority challenged by this newcomer. Known for his brutality, Herod then ordered the murder of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem. Although Tissot acknowledged that the number of victims must have been relatively few in a village like Bethlehem, he depicted horror on a large scale in this episode.

According to a tradition recounted in Tissot's commentary, Herod lured the intended victims to the palace with the promise of a party. The children were then wrenched from their mothers' arms and tossed to their deaths in a courtyard. Herod's deviousness was thus highlighted: called singly into a long corridor, the women had no opportunity to warn others of the impending tragedy.

Contemporary critics universally remarked on the harshness of this scene, which anticipates the artist's exacting attention to the specifics of the Passion.

Our artists reproduce this fine art composition in oil on canvas by hand, preserving the tonal range that makes fine art oil painting so sought after for a gallery wall.

100% Hand Painted on Canvas

This is a genuine hand painted oil painting, not a canvas print. Our painters match the palette of The Massacre of the Innocents (Le massacre des innocents) by eye and build up the fine art forms in thin layers, which is what gives the finished fine art oil painting its luminosity.

Specifications & What You Receive

• Every fine art canvas is hand painted in oils; no mechanical or digital reproduction at any stage.
• An extra 2-inch blank border is left around all edges for easy stretching and framing.
• Sold studio-direct and shipped worldwide, with no intermediary markup.
• Available canvas sizes for this hand painted oil painting: 30 X 40 in, 36 X 48 in, 48 X 72 in.
• Custom canvas dimensions are welcome for this fine art oil painting.
• Choose from DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS and other competitively priced carriers.
• Free professional stretching on wooden stretcher bars — contact us for framing options.
• Before dispatch we email a digital proof so you can approve the finished canvas.

Where to Hang It

Hang this fine art oil painting above a sofa, console, or bed to give a gallery wall an instant focal point. Its timeless palette works with both minimalist and period interiors, and the piece also makes a considered gift for housewarmings, weddings, and art lovers.

Delivery, Sizes & Guarantee

In short: The Massacre of the Innocents (Le massacre des innocents) - James Tissot - Oil Painting combines a timeless composition, a 100% hand painted oil painting process, and the flexibility of made-to-order canvas sizes — a dependable choice for fine art oil painting and gallery wall art.