Adam and Eve in Paradise
Adam and Eve, unashamed of their nakedness, hold each other in a casual embrace as God points to the tree of knowledge and admonishes them not to eat its fruit. The figures derive from an engraving by Jan Sadeler I (after Maerten de Vos), published in Antwerp in 1583. Human anatomy, already exaggerated in the print, is further accentuated in the painting by the addition of color, as Adam’s ruddy flesh contrasts with Eve’s blushed ivory skin. The paradise landscape they inhabit, with its lush vegetation and brightly colored birds, is typical of Cuzco painting in the 18th century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Adam and Eve in Paradise
- Artist: Unknown artist
- Date: 18th Century
- Culture: Peruvian (Cuzco)
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 28 3/4 × 45 7/8 in. (73 × 116.5 cm)
Framed: 29 1/2 × 46 5/8 in. (75 × 118.5 cm) - Credit Line: Gift of Sharon Li Baldwin, in honor of James Kung Wei Li and Julie Chu Lu Li, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.426
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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