Massacre of the innocents and the flight into Egypt

The predella originally was built into the steps of one of the altars of the cathedral of Trento, surmounted by the altarpiece with The Assumption in glory with angels and saints Vigilius and Hermagoras, currently kept in the church of Saint Bartholomew at Tiarno di Sotto.
The episodes depicted are taken from the Gospel of Matthew. To the left is the massacre of the newborn of Bethlehem ordered by king Herod at the time of Jesus’ birth. The king, having learned of the birth of a child destined to become the ‘King of the Jews’, in fact feared that his power would be usurped.
To the right there is the flight of the Holy family into Egypt. Before the massacre, an angel had appeared to Joseph in a dream and had ordered him to take the Child away from Bethlehem. The two angels bearing swords defend the holy figures on their way and act as link by indicating the two scenes.