Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross
1647
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Claude Mellan
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
See the richer artist page1647
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Adam and Eve at the Foot of the Cross is a 1647 ink by Claude Mellan, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows two figures kneeling under a tall cross. One person leans forward, holding a skull and a broken branch with dead leaves. The other reaches upward, as if in prayer or sorrow. The ground is rocky, and the sky above is soft with wispy clouds. The skull and broken branch might hint at the fleeting nature of life. The Latin text on the cross adds a layer of meaning, but it’s hard to read here. Want to see more like this? Look up engraving to learn how artists carve images into metal.
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
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