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WILLIAM BLAKE. Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso)

Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso). Artist: William Blake (British, London 1757-1827 London). Dimensions: Sheet: 16 3/8 × 13 1/16 in. (41.6 × 33.2 cm). Date: ca. 1803.
Blake considered the Bible to be the supreme poetic work and here evocatively re-imagined the Old Testament theme of the creation of Eve. Instead of showing the first woman emerging from Adam's side, Blake presents the couple meeting with ceremonial solemnity. A divine figure prepares to join their hands while a recumbent Adam looks up eagerly as his mate steps down from blue-tinged clouds. Objects in the landscape elaborate the meaning: the grape vines entwined around the tree symbolize marriage; the exotic red and blue plumed birds represent the newly created souls; and the giant oak leaf on which Adam reclines forecasts humankind's suffering. A lion dozing near grazing lambs at lower right signals the peace of the pre-fallen world. Blake made this finished watercolor for his loyal patron Thomas Butts.

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Author: WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827)

Title: Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso)

Caption: Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso). Artist: William Blake (British, London 1757-1827 London). Dimensions: Sheet: 16 3/8 × 13 1/16 in. (41.6 × 33.2 cm). Date: ca. 1803. Blake considered the Bible to be the supreme poetic work and here evocatively re-imagined the Old Testament theme of the creation of Eve. Instead of showing the first woman emerging from Adam's side, Blake presents the couple meeting with ceremonial solemnity. A divine figure prepares to join their hands while a recumbent Adam looks up eagerly as his mate steps down from blue-tinged clouds. Objects in the landscape elaborate the meaning: the grape vines entwined around the tree symbolize marriage; the exotic red and blue plumed birds represent the newly created souls; and the giant oak leaf on which Adam reclines forecasts humankind's suffering. A lion dozing near grazing lambs at lower right signals the peace of the pre-fallen world. Blake made this finished watercolor for his loyal patron Thomas Butts.

Technique/material: Watercolor, pen and black ink over graphite

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

Credit: Album

Image size: 3225 × 4010 px | 37.0 MB

Print size: 27.3 × 34.0 cm | 1269.7 × 1578.7 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: DRAWINGS AND PRINTS • DRAWINGS • EUROPE • GRAPHITE • INK • METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, USA • UNITED KINGDOM • WATERCOLOR, PEN AND BLACK INK OVER GRAPHITE • WATERCOLORS • WILLIAM BLAKE