Who painted Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross?

Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross was painted by Claude Mellan in 1647.

Where can I see Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross?

Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross?

Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross?

Museum-quality prints of Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross

Claude Mellan , 1647

Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross is an ink print by the Baroque artist Claude Mellan. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by the artist, lower left in rock: CMellan inven. et scul. cum pr. R.; by the artist, center in banner: IPSE ENIM EST PAX NOSTRA OVI FECIT VTRAQVE VNVM Eph. Cap. 2; by the artist, center on tablet: AVDI / ISRAEL / Diliges Dominum / Deum tuum / ex toto corde tuo / er in tota anima tua et / in tota mente tua.; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: Agos 6210 / A -1528-; by later hand lower right berso in graphite: 27 / DTHHCCIB 204

About this work

Overview

Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross is an engraving on laid paper created by Claude Mellan around 1647.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts two kneeling figures beneath a tall cross, one holding a skull and a dead branch, the other reaching upwards. The imagery may symbolize the transience of life, while the Latin text on the cross adds another layer of meaning.

Technique & Style

The work is an example of engraving, a technique where images are carved into metal. The soft sky with wispy clouds and the detailed rendering of the figures and rocky ground demonstrate Mellan's skill with this medium.