Matteo di Giovanni, Massacre of the Innocents
The Massacre of the Innocents, painted by Matteo di Giovanni in 1482 for the Church of Sant'Agostino, arrived at Santa Maria della Scala in 2006 and was placed in the Passeggio during a temporary exhibition dedicated to the painter. The work is one of four depictions of the same theme executed by the artist over a decade: the panel at the Capodimonte Museum in Naples (1468), the cartoon for the floor of the Siena Cathedral (1481), the work for the Church of Sant'Agostino, and the one made for the Basilica dei Servi in 1491.
The Massacre of the Innocents, painted by Matteo di Giovanni in 1482 for the Church of Sant'Agostino, arrived at Santa Maria della Scala in 2006 and was placed in the Passeggio during a temporary exhibition dedicated to the painter. The work is one of four depictions of the same theme executed by the artist over a decade: the panel at the Capodimonte Museum in Naples (1468), the cartoon for the floor of the Siena Cathedral (1481), the work for the Church of Sant'Agostino, and the one made for the Basilica dei Servi in 1491.
The artwork "Massacre of the Innocents" contains a reference to the dramatic events that took place in Otranto in 1480, namely the conquest of the city by the Turks and the subsequent massacre of its citizens. The panel seems to be unique compared to the others, both in terms of its heightened drama and the features of Herod, who is depicted with Arab-like physical traits and dressed as a sultan, as well as the Arab-influenced traits of the soldiers.