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.
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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
Print
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.