The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

William Edward West, 1791

MEDIUMOil on canvas
DIMENSIONS48.6 × 72.9 cm (19 1/8 × 28 11/16 in.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONPainting and Sculpture of Europe
CULTUREEngland
CREDIT LINEGeorge F. Harding Collection

Witness the dramatic expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, a powerful biblical scene rendered with intense emotion and dynamic movement. This painting was a preliminary study for a grand, uninstalled chapel commission.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

This tumultuous scene plunges us into the dramatic moment of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. A powerful, winged angel, cloaked in red, drives the first humans from paradise with a flaming sword, its light catching the angel's determined face and muscular arm. Adam shields his face in despair, while Eve, her body contorted in anguish, reaches back toward the vanishing light of Eden. Their vulnerability is highlighted by the contrast with the angel's divine power, emphasizing the profound consequences of their transgression. This painting was a preparatory sketch for one of several large canvases intended for a chapel in Windsor Castle, a project that occupied the artist for two decades, though the paintings were ultimately never installed. It captures the raw emotion and scale fitting for such a monumental biblical narrative.

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What to Notice

1

The flaming sword held by the angel, its light illuminating the scene.

2

Adam's hand covering his face in shame and sorrow.

3

Eve's desperate backward glance toward the disappearing Garden of Eden.

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Audio Deep Dive

Witness the dramatic expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, a powerful biblical scene rendered with intense emotion and dynamic movement. This painting was a…

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THE ARTIST
William Edward West 1788–1857 · United States

William Edward West, an American portrait painter, captured the likenesses of wealthy families and collaborated with author Washington Irving.

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