Jan Luyken was born in Amsterdam 16 April 1649 and died there 5 April 1712. He was a painter and engraver whose son Caspar Luyken born December 1672 followed his footsteps to become an engraver. He died before his father on 4 October 1708. According to Benezit there are 36 engravings known to be the work of the two of them together, presumably this is one. This fine engraving marks the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris 1572 which was a conflict between the Catholics and Protestants over a Royal wedding aimed at appeasing the two groups. Lasting two days from 23 August it is claimed to have taken the lives of between 5000 and 30000 people.