
Read the visual description
This is a drawing of two nude figures standing beneath a fruit-bearing tree surrounded by elements of nature. The drawing depicts a scene in a lush outdoor setting, featuring intricately detailed branches and leaves of the large tree as well as an eagle-like bird perched nearby. In the background are additional trees extending into a forested area, and a winding path leading into the distance. The foreground includes various plants and the ground is littered with their leaves. The figures are positioned at the center, engaged in a gesture of pointing towards the fruit in the tree. The scene is rendered in fine details with attention to the texture and flow of the natural elements surrounding the figures.
National Gallery of Art · Print
Adam and Eve before the Tree of Knowledge
Jan Pietersz Saenredam after Abraham Bloemaert
- Date
- 1604
- Medium
- engraving on laid paper
- Dimensions
- plate: 27.5 x 19.9 cm (10 13/16 x 7 13/16 in.) sheet: 29.4 x 22.4 cm (11 9/16 x 8 13/16 in.)
- Classification
- Accession number
- 1994.50.2
- Credit line
- Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
- Time span
- 1601 to 1650
- Department
- CG-E
Portfolio and series
- Series
- History of the First Parents of Man: pl. 2
Subjects and terms
- Dutch
- Adam and Eve
- Old Testament
- religious
- bird
- animal
- engraving
Provenance
Private collection (indistinct armorial mark); Jan Baptist de Graaf, Amsterdam [1742-1804] (Lugt 1120); Heinrich Schwarz, Vienna (Lugt 1372); (sale, Sotheby's, New York, 12 May 1994, lot 172); (David Tunick, New York); purchased by NGA, 1994.
Inscription
lower center in plate: A. Bloemaert inue. / J. Saenredam sculp. 2; four line Latin text across bottom in plate (by T. Schreve): Jusserat ... voluntas.; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: DTTC
Watermarks
crozier in a shield (Briquet 1355)
NGA object ID 90146. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.