1626
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
The sacrifices of Cain and Abel, and the death of Abel is a 1626 by Francesco Villamena, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows two brothers making offerings to a bearded figure in the sky. One holds a basket of fruit, the other a sheep. Flames shoot up from both gifts, but the brother with the fruit looks upset. On the right, another brother lies on the ground, stabbed, while others react with shock or anger. The text below names this a biblical story about jealousy and murder. The artist used bold lines and dramatic lighting to make the scene feel intense. Next, look up Baroque to see how this style used movement and emotion in art.
This etching on paper by Francesco Villamena from 1626 depicts two biblical scenes: Cain and Abel offering sacrifices to God, and the subsequent murder of Abel by his brother Cain. The work is part of a set of twenty prints illustrating scenes from Raphael’s paintings in the Vatican’s Loggie, often called the 'Raphael Bible.' The Latin inscription references the rejected offerings and Cain’s resentment toward Abel. The print reflects Villamena’s engraving technique applied to Raphael’s designs.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Francesco Villamena (1564–1624) was an Italian engraver, drawing teacher and art collector.
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