Adam was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1507.

Where can I see Adam?

Adam is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Adam?

Adam is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Adam by Albrecht Dürer (1507) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a piece of religious art housed in the Museo del Prado, the painting functions as a specific representation of the male progenitor within Christian theology.

Albrecht Dürer's 1507 oil painting, titled Adam, serves as a religious work depicting the biblical first man as its sole main subject. Created as part of a larger diptych with a corresponding figure of Eve, the artwork focuses on the iconography of the primordial ancestor from the Book of Genesis. The composition presents Adam in a life-size format, emphasizing his role in the narrative of human creation and the subsequent fall.

As a piece of religious art housed in the Museo del Prado, the painting functions as a specific representation of the male progenitor within Christian theology.

Technique & Style

Albrecht Dürer's Adam, executed in 1507, is an oil painting on a wooden panel support. The work measures 209 cm in height and 81 cm in width, presenting a vertical format typical of single-figure religious depictions. As a panel painting, the medium allows for the detailed rendering characteristic of the artist's Northern Renaissance style.

The piece is currently housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the collection in Prado Hall 055B.

History & Provenance

Albrecht Dürer created the painting Adam in 1507 as an oil work on panel. The artwork entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display in Prado Hall 055B. Its creation was recorded in 1507, and it portrays the biblical figure Adam. The painting is classified as religious art and is part of the museum's permanent holdings.

The work titled Adam is held by the Museo del Prado, where it is catalogued under inventory number P00969. It was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1507 using oil paint on panel and is classified as a religious painting. The painting has been displayed in the museum’s collection galleries, including a presentation in Prado Hall 055B.

Exhibition history is limited to its ongoing presence in the Museo del Prado’s permanent collection, with no separate exhibition record cited in the sources.

Context

Albrecht Dürer's Adam, painted in 1507, occupies a pivotal position in Northern Renaissance art, reflecting both religious humanist themes and the artist's innovative approach to depicting biblical narratives. The work, housed in the Museo del Prado, exemplifies Dürer's mastery of oil on panel and his integration of classical humanist ideals within a distinctly Christian framework, influencing subsequent religious art across Europe.

Legacy

The work's enduring reputation stems from its masterful integration of Northern Renaissance techniques with a deeply human portrayal of the biblical Adam, establishing a precedent for figure painting in the early 16th century. Its presence in the Museo del Prado has ensured continuous scholarly attention, cementing its status as a benchmark for religious art that balances theological narrative with naturalistic detail. This legacy influenced subsequent generations of artists who adopted Dürer's precise anatomical rendering and symbolic use of the Garden of Eden setting, shaping devotional imagery across Central European workshops in the century following its creation.

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s 1507 oil painting titled Adam presents a solitary, nude male figure set against an unadorned black background. The composition isolates the subject, emphasizing his anatomical form and the symbolic apple he holds. The work exemplifies Dürer’s interest in merging Northern Renaissance precision with compositional ideas drawn from contemporary Italian art.