Jan Gossaert (Jean Gossart), 'Adam and Eve', about 1520
About the work
Overview
Adam, wearing an apron of leaves, and Eve, still naked, stand between the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. Adam has just tasted the apple that Eve holds, while the serpent watches from above. In the background is the Garden of Eden with the richly decorated Fountain of Life in the centre.
This is one of at least nine painted or drawn compositions of this subject undertaken by the artist; they became progressively more complicated. Gossaert was especially interested in portraying the nude figure; this painting shows the influence of Italian and German art.
This painting is on loan from His Majesty The King
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Adam and Eve
- Artist
- Jan Gossaert (Jean Gossart)
- Artist dates
- active 1508; died 1532
- Date made
- about 1520
- Medium and support
- Oil on wood
- Dimensions
- 168.9 × 111.4 cm
- Acquisition credit
- On loan from His Majesty The King
- Inventory number
- L14
- Location
- Not on display
- Image copyright
- On loan from His Majesty The King, © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
- Collection
- Main Collection
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
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