representations of the fall 2 artistic depictions of eve
DESCRIPTION
This presentation situates John Milton’s Paradise Lost in a cross-disciplinary, cultural discourse that engenders the Fall as feminine—a discourse that employs Eve as an agent for propelling negative stereotypes of women, easily seen in theTRANSCRIPT
Something in the way she moves…Something in the way she moves…
What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thoughtNo evil durst attempt thee! but I rueThat error now, which is become my crime, And thou th’ accuser. Thus it shall befallHim who, to worth in woman overtrusting,Lets her will rule…
Paradise Lost, Book 9, lines 1179-84
Michelangelo’s Michelangelo’s The Fall—The Sistine ChapelThe Fall—The Sistine Chapel
1510, fresco painting1510, fresco painting
Adam Adam “turned his eyes “turned his eyes
from the morning light from the morning light (which is (which is God),God), and gave himself over and gave himself over
to the fickle and dark desires to the fickle and dark desires of a woman, of a woman,
as to the evening twilight.”as to the evening twilight.”
——Cardinal Marco Vigerio, Cardinal Marco Vigerio, theological advisor to Michelangelotheological advisor to Michelangelo
Hendrik Goltzius Hendrik Goltzius
The Fall of ManThe Fall of Man 1616, oil1616, oil
MasolinoTemptation of Adam and Eve
1425, fresco
from Paradise Lost, Book 9
“subtlest beast”“wily snake”“fit vessel”
“Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed”
“Into the heart of Eve his words made way”
“Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot
May join us, equal joy as equal love”
Hieronymus Hieronymus Bosch Bosch
The Last The Last JudgmentJudgment
The Original The Original SinSin,,
detaildetail
+1482, oil+1482, oil
Hugo van der Goes Hugo van der Goes The Fall Of AdamThe Fall Of Adam
1480-2, oil1480-2, oil
Fixed on the fruit she Fixed on the fruit she gazed, gazed,
which to beholdwhich to beholdMight tempt alone, Might tempt alone, and in her ears the and in her ears the
soundsoundYet rung of his Yet rung of his
persuasive words, persuasive words, impregnedimpregned
With reason, With reason, to her seeming, to her seeming, and with truth…and with truth…(Book 9, lines 735-9)(Book 9, lines 735-9)
15th 15th century century
Manuscript Manuscript IlluminatioIlluminatio
nn
Lucas Cranach the Lucas Cranach the ElderElder
Adam and EveAdam and Eve1526, oil1526, oil
• knowing, crafty Eve• unknowing, vacant Adam• skin tone• animal imagery• grapevine imagery• serpent’s movement
downward
Cranach the Elder and MiltonCranach the Elder and Milton
““Her husband…heroic built, though of terrestrial Her husband…heroic built, though of terrestrial mold… She fair, divinely fair, fit love for gods…”mold… She fair, divinely fair, fit love for gods…”
(Book 9, lines 482-9)(Book 9, lines 482-9)
““Greedily she engorged without restraint,Greedily she engorged without restraint, And knew not eating death: satiate at length,And knew not eating death: satiate at length, And heightened as with wine, jocund and And heightened as with wine, jocund and
boon…”boon…” (Book 9, lines 791-4)(Book 9, lines 791-4)
““Carnal desire inflaming… in lust they burn”Carnal desire inflaming… in lust they burn” (Book 9, lines 1013-5)(Book 9, lines 1013-5)
Lucas Lucas Cranach Cranach the Elderthe Elder Adam and Adam and
EveEve1528, oil1528, oil
Albrecht AltdorferAlbrecht Altdorfer The Fall of ManThe Fall of Man
1535, oil1535, oil
Rembrandt’sRembrandt’sThe FallThe Fall
1638, pen drawing1638, pen drawing
“Would thou hadst “Would thou hadst hearkened to my hearkened to my
words, and stayed words, and stayed With me, With me,
as I besought thee, as I besought thee, when that strange when that strange
Desire of wandering…”Desire of wandering…”
“Was I to have never “Was I to have never parted from thy side?parted from thy side?
As good have As good have grown there still, grown there still,
a lifeless rib.”a lifeless rib.” (Book 9, lines 1134-54)(Book 9, lines 1134-54)
Albrecht Albrecht Dürer Dürer Adam and EveAdam and Eve1504, engraving1504, engraving “…“…leave not leave not the faithful sidethe faithful sideThat gave thee being,That gave thee being,still shades thee still shades thee and protects.and protects.The wife, The wife, where dangerwhere dangeror dishonor lurks,or dishonor lurks,Safest and seemliestSafest and seemliestby her husband stays,by her husband stays,Who guards her…”Who guards her…”(Book 9, lines 266-9)(Book 9, lines 266-9)