Massacre of the Innocents (Munich)

Rubens put the drama outside Herod's palace. Herod was the king who ordered the killing of all young male children in Bethlehem.

Three groups can be distinguished. In the center a woman draws the eye by holding a blood stained cloth over her head. Her face shows despair.

In the groups to the left and right women try to stop the soldiers - to no avail.

In an earlier version Rubens used only one group, making it a more intimate and therefore stronger depiction.