Maarten De Vos, Adam and Eve after the Fall / The Sacrifices of Cain and Abel, 17th Century, Oil Painting on Canvas, Framed, Set of 2

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Maarten de vos (antwerp 1532 - 1603) workshop/follower

adam and eve after the fall / the sacrifices of cain and … Read more Maarten de vos (antwerp 1532 - 1603) workshop/follower

adam and eve after the fall / the sacrifices of cain and abel

oil on canvas (41 x 51 cm - in antique frames (defects) 50 x 60 cm.)

full details of the works at the following link

this pair of interesting depictions, titled "adam and eve after the fall" and "the sacrifices of cain and abel," are pictorial derivatives of two early engravings by the flemish master johann sadler i.

specifically, these works belong to a famous 1583 series entitled boni et mali scientia (knowledge of good and evil), engraved by sadler based on the invention of the flemish painter maarten de vos (antwerp 1532 - 1603) after his formative travels in italy, especially venice, rome, and the surrounding countryside. And florence.

the sequence of these extraordinary compositions illustrates the crucial moments of genesis, from the consequences of original sin to the subsequent history of the first humans and the origins of humanity.

in our case, the first painting shows the hard life of our first parents after the expulsion from the garden of eden: in the center, adam labors in the arid earth, symbolizing god's condemnation to manual labor, while eve, inside a rudimentary hut, cares for the young cain and abel.

in the background, a beautiful natural landscape rich in naturalistic details preserves intact the idyllic vision of the garden of eden, populated by numerous animal species, including a camel, a unicorn, and a stork, typical of the flemish tradition influenced by the successful motifs of the brueghel masters. Immersed in the golden light of eden, the small nude figures of adam and eve stand out, captured in a state of purity and total harmony with nature, before their spiritual fall. Above them stands the archangel michael, who will mark the end of their idyll.

the second work, however, depicts the prelude to the dramatic story of adam and eve's two sons, intent on sacrificing the fruits of their labor to god.

cain is a farmer and sacrifices the fruits of the earth to god; the smoke from his sacrifice, however, is dark, thick, and bends downward, symbolizing god's rejection. At his side is his brother abel, a shepherd, kneeling before a pyre on which he is sacrificing a lamb from his flock. The smoke from his altar rises straight and light toward the sky, where the figure of god the father can be seen among the clouds, favorably accepting the offering.

in the background, we can glimpse the tragic events that follow, with cain, gripped by jealousy, killing his brother. Next to him, the hut in which his parents, adam and eve, rest.

the style of our works exhibits close affinities with the compositions of marten de vos, who successfully blended traditional flemish taste with italianate features.

the pleasing quality of the works, characterized by a soft rendering and intense color, suggests that they likely originated in the master's workshop or were produced by a skilled painter from the large group of followers influenced by his style, in this case inspired by sadeler i's etching. Many prints of his works regularly served as graphic models for painters and collaborators in his circle, who translated his graphic inventions onto canvases and panels destined for private flemish collections.

** sadeler johann i (brussels, 1550 - venice, 1601)
boni et mali scientia
engraver: sadeler johann i (1550/1601) / inventor: de vos marten (1532/1603-1604)
https://www.calcografica.it/stampe/ingrosso.php?id=s-fc40007

additional information:

the paintings come with two attractive antique frames and are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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