Massacre of the Innocents (recto); Figure Sketches (verso)

The drawing Massacre of the Innocents (recto); Figure Sketches (verso) is attributed to the School of Nicolas Poussin French, 1594-1665, and dates from the broad period of 1614-1700. The dramatic recto composition depicts the Biblical narrative of King Herod’s ruthless order for the execution of male infants, a subject Poussin famously treated in his mature period. The scene is rendered using pen and brown ink, skillfully enhanced with brush and brown wash, a technique that creates deep shadows and defines the frantic, three-dimensional action essential to the French classical Baroque style.

This work exemplifies the academic drawing tradition prevalent in 17th-century France, where followers sought to emulate Poussin's rigorous structure and emotionally contained intensity in history subjects. The application of brown wash over line work emphasizes volume and gesture, providing a dynamic yet balanced sense of organization to the chaotic subject matter.

On the verso of the ivory laid paper, the artist utilized graphite and pen and brown ink for preliminary figure sketches. These quick studies offer insight into the developmental process behind complex multi-figure compositions and confirm the preparatory nature of the sheet. As a classification, this drawing provides essential documentation of the artistic methodologies adopted by Poussin’s influential circle. The piece resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to its historical significance and age, this French drawing is frequently digitized, making high-resolution prints and reproductions widely accessible in the public domain for scholarly study and appreciation.