Public sale records, not an appraisal

How much is Massacre of the Innocents worth?

Massacre of the Innocents last sold for $76.7 million at Sotheby's London in 2002. It is now held by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, so it is not for sale.

Artist
Peter Paul Rubens
Date
1612
Medium
Oil on panel
Held by
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens, 1612
Sold for$76.7MSotheby's London · 2002

About the painting

The Massacre of the Innocents is the subject of two paintings by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the episode of the biblical Massacre of the Innocents of Bethlehem, as related in the Gospel of Matthew (2:13–18). The first, measuring 142 x 182 cm, was painted after his return to his native Antwerp in 1608, following eight years spent in Italy.

More on the artist: the most expensive Rubens ever sold, and where the famous ones hang.

Rubens next to other famous artists

Each artist's highest documented sale, from the same research. Rubens: $76.7 million for Massacre of the Innocents, in 2002.

  1. Monet$111MMeules (Haystacks) · 2019
  2. Gauguin$106MMaternité II · 2022
  3. Botticelli$92.2MPortrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel · 2021
  4. Renoir$78.1MBal du moulin de la Galette · 1990
  5. Rubens$76.7MMassacre of the Innocents · 2002
  6. Manet$65.1MLe Printemps · 2014
  7. Caillebotte$53MJeune homme à sa fenêtre · 2021
  8. Raphael$47.9MHead of an Apostle, black chalk study for the Transfiguration · 2012
  9. Turner$47.4MRome, from Mount Aventine · 2014

Nominal US dollars as reported at the time of sale, buyer's premium included where the source includes it.

Why it has no price

Massacre of the Innocents is held by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Works in public collections are not sold, so no one can put a market price on them. Sale records of other works by the same artist are the closest guide to what it would fetch.

Scan it, see the price tag

Point Art Scanner at a famous painting and it names the work and shows its sale record or the artist's, with the museum that holds it. Painted something yourself? Try the free pricing calculator.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Art Scanner result for the Mona Lisa with its $100M insured value tag
The Mona Lisa in Art Scanner: insured value $100M, Musée du Louvre, 1962

Questions

How much is Massacre of the Innocents worth?

Massacre of the Innocents last sold for $76.7 million at Sotheby's London in 2002. It is now held by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, so it is not for sale.

Is Massacre of the Innocents for sale?

No. It is held by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Works in public collections are not sold, so they have no market price.

What is Rubens's most expensive work?

Massacre of the Innocents, which sold for $76.7 million at Sotheby's London in 2002. Prices are nominal US dollars as reported at the time.

When did Massacre of the Innocents last sell?

It sold at Sotheby's London in 2002 for $76.7 million.

Where is Massacre of the Innocents?

Massacre of the Innocents (1612, oil on panel) is held by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.

Sources

Researched October 2026 and checked against a second source. All famous painting prices