Artwork
Adán antes de comer el fruto

Adán antes de comer el fruto is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Juan Antonio Vera Calvo. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The nude figure conveys innocence and vulnerability, while the tree and fruit symbolize temptation and the impending original sin.
The painting shows Adam in a nude pose before he eats the forbidden fruit, standing beside a tree that bears the fruit under an open sky and a tranquil body of water. The nude figure conveys innocence and vulnerability, while the tree and fruit symbolize temptation and the impending original sin. The serene landscape contrasts with the narrative of the fall, emphasizing the moment just before humanity’s transgression.
As a religious work from 1871, the scene illustrates the biblical episode of the fall of man, representing the theological concept of humanity’s loss of grace through disobedience.
Technique & Style
Adán antes de comer el fruto is an oil painting on canvas created in 1871 by Juan Antonio Vera Calvo. The work measures approximately 244 cm in height and 125 cm in width and is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado. Classified as a religious genre painting, it depicts Adam in the nude beside the forbidden fruit, a tree, a landscape, a body of water and sky, illustrating the fall of man.
History & Provenance
Juan Antonio Vera Calvo executed the oil painting Adán antes de comer el fruto in 1871. Created on canvas, the work depicts the biblical figure Adam prior to the consumption of the forbidden fruit, situated within a landscape featuring a tree and body of water. The piece is classified as religious art with a focus on the nude form and the theme of the Fall of Man.
Currently, the painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains part of the institution's holdings.
Adán antes de comer el fruto is an oil on canvas painting by Juan Antonio Vera Calvo, completed in 1871. The work belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is housed in the museum’s permanent display. No specific accession or inventory number is recorded in the available documentation, and there is no evidence of a distinct exhibition history for the piece beyond its inclusion in the museum’s holdings.
Overview
Adán antes de comer el fruto is an oil painting by Juan Antonio Vera Calvo, completed in 1871. This work depicts the biblical figure of Adam, moments before consuming the forbidden fruit. The painting is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado, where it is preserved as an example of 19th-century religious art. It captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Fall of Man.
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