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Jan Gossaert

Adam and Eve, ca. 1525

Now On View

Description

Maker

  • Jan Gossaert, ca. 1472-ca. 1533, Netherlandish

Title

Adam and Eve

Year

ca. 1525

Medium

Chalk on two joined sheets of paper

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • chalk,
  • crayon

Supports

  • Two sheets of paper joined horizontally

Dimensions

62.1 x 45.9 cm (24 7/16 x 18 1/16 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Watermark:orb with cross? (undescribed)

Type

  • Works on Paper,
  • Drawings and Watercolors

Credit

Walter H. Kimball Fund

Object Number

48.425

Projects & Publications

Publications

Manual / Issue 5

Unfinished
Read Online

Selected Works

A Handbook of the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design

Old Master Drawings from the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Design and Description

January 27 - April 9, 2006

Gossaert was the court artist to Philip of Burgundy at Utrecht and the first Northern Renaissance artist known to have traveled to Rome. Gossaert’s depiction of the Fall of Man portrays a psychologically charged moment infused with overt eroticism. Eve reaches simultaneously toward the apple and Adam’s groin. Adam is no less culpable, however, as his arms stretch in two directions paralleling those of Eve. Gossaert’s muscular bodies reveal his engagement with Italian models; however, his descriptive approach to the texture and details of skin, bark, snakeskin, and hair—achieved through rubbing, or stumping, natural chalk—indicates his immersion in Northern traditions. The ultimate use of this remarkable drawing is unknown. It may have functioned as a workshop model.

Treasures on Paper

June 13 - August 19, 1989

Old Master Drawings

September 2 - October 16, 1983

Raid the Icebox 1 with Andy Warhol

April 23 - June 30, 1970

European Galleries

This drawing is surprisingly erotic for its time. Eve reaches toward both the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge and Adam’s groin, while Adam stretches in a similarly provocative way toward her breast. The detailed description of their bodies reflects Northern European traditions, while the muscularity also reveals Gossaert’s interest in Italian styles. Scholars have noted that the position of Adam’s legs is reminiscent of the ancient Roman sculpture of Spinario, which Gossaert sketched during a visit to Rome in 1508/1509. The exaggerated musculature and twisted posture are also similar to that of Giambologna’s terra-cotta river god, nearby in this gallery.

Raid the Icebox 1 with Andy Warhol

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Adam and Eve with the accession number of 48.425. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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