Artwork
Kain und Abel (?)
Kain und Abel (?) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Johann Christoph Storer. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1645 by Johann Christoph Storer, this religious painting depicts the biblical narrative of Cain and Abel.
Created in 1645 by Johann Christoph Storer, this religious painting depicts the biblical narrative of Cain and Abel. The work visually represents the two brothers, central figures in the Genesis account of the first murder. As a piece of religious art, the imagery serves to illustrate the scriptural conflict between the siblings, focusing on the identities of Cain and Abel as the primary subjects.
The composition functions as a visual interpretation of this foundational religious story, emphasizing the dramatic tension inherent in the encounter between the murderer and his victim.
History & Provenance
The painting Kain und Abel was created by Johann Christoph Storer in 1645, as indicated by the artist’s date and the work’s inclusion in the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
It is currently held in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, where it is catalogued as part of the state collections. The work’s religious genre aligns with its depiction of the biblical figures Cain and Abel, and its dimensions are recorded as 226.5 cm in height and 149.6 cm in width.
Overview
Johann Christoph Storer, a German painter active in the mid‑17th century, executed the work titled Kain und Abel in 1645. The oil painting belongs to the early Baroque period and is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection. It presents a compact, interior scene that dramatizes the biblical encounter between the first brothers, Cain and Abel.
Technique & Style
Storer employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with sharply illuminated faces and hands. This lighting scheme heightens the emotional intensity and directs the viewer’s attention to the gestures of the two men. The brushwork is typical of early Baroque realism, rendering flesh and fabric with a tactile quality that reinforces the scene’s dramatic immediacy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Christoph Storer (Konstanz, 20 July 1611 – Konstanz, 15 January 1671) was a German Baroque painter, draughtsman and etcher.
