Intelligence Squared The Specialist | The Rediscovery of Rubens’ The Massacre of the Innocents, with George Gordon
Jul 22, 2025
In this captivating discussion, George Gordon, Deputy Chairman at Sotheby’s Europe and an expert in Old Master Paintings, shares the thrilling tale of Rubens’ The Massacre of the Innocents, a masterpiece lost for 250 years. He details the intense emotion captured in the artwork and the extensive journey of its rediscovery and attribution. Gordon also highlights the painting's significance in art history and its record-breaking sale, alongside intriguing insights into Rubens' evolution as an artist.
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Visceral Power of Rubens' Masterpiece
- Rubens' early masterpiece "The Massacre of the Innocents" evokes raw, brutal violence with a classical architectural backdrop.
- Its swirling, continuous energy and horrific subject matter create a powerful, almost unbearable viewing experience.
Rubens as an Italian-influenced Artist
- Rubens saw himself as an Italian artist, shaped by his travels and studies in Italy.
- His return to Antwerp sparked a revolution in Northern European painting with new possibilities.
Initial Doubts and Research Journey
- George Gordon initially doubted the painting's attribution to Rubens and studied related artists instead.
- He discovered inconsistencies that led him back to considering it an early Rubens work.