Who painted The Earth after the Fall of Man?

The Earth after the Fall of Man was painted by Franz Rösel von Rosenhof in 1696.

Where can I see The Earth after the Fall of Man?

The Earth after the Fall of Man is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is The Earth after the Fall of Man?

The Earth after the Fall of Man is associated with Late Mannerism.

Artwork

The Earth after the Fall of Man

Franz Rösel von Rosenhof , 1696

The Earth after the Fall of Man is an oil painting by the Late Mannerist artist Franz Rösel von Rosenhof. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Franz Rösel von Rosenhof’s oil on canvas, The Earth after the Fall of Man, dates to 1696 and is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. The work depicts a tumultuous natural scene populated by a multitude of animals under a storm‑laden sky, suggesting a world in disarray following a biblical catastrophe.

Subject & Meaning

The composition gathers a variety of fauna, birds in flight, grazing deer, prowling lions and tigers, and a disproportionately large rooster at its centre, evoking the chaos believed to have followed humanity’s original sin. The dominant rooster, rendered almost regal, may symbolize a new order or a warning amid the surrounding disorder.

Technique & Style

Rösel employs a pronounced impasto, building up thick layers of pigment to give the animal forms a tactile, three‑dimensional quality. The stormy atmosphere is rendered with dark, swirling clouds and occasional flashes of light, while the forest floor is rendered in a tangled, almost battle‑worn manner, enhancing the sense of upheaval.

History & Provenance

Completed in the late seventeenth century, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has remained in the museum’s permanent collection. Its provenance prior to acquisition is not extensively documented, reflecting the often‑fragmentary records of Baroque religious works.

Context

Created during the Baroque period, the work reflects contemporary interests in dramatic narrative and vivid naturalism. Religious themes were frequently expressed through allegorical depictions of the natural world, and Rösel’s inclusion of exotic predators alongside familiar European wildlife aligns with the era’s fascination with the sublime and the moral consequences of the Fall.