BEHAM, Hans Sebald, Adam and Eve, 1543

Monogrammed in the plate in the upper left ‘HSB’ with the date, “1543,” this work is a fine dark black impression printed on a fine laid paper.

According to Goddard (1988) , “The tree of knowledge of good and evil takes the form of a tree of death; a skeleton whose arms turn, Daphne-like, into branches.  This, of course, is in clear opposition to the tree of life, which God had also placed in the garden of Eden.  The Devil (serpent) presents Adam and Eve with the apple, which is mankind’s downfall.  Eve, now aware of her sinfulness, hides her nakedness in shame, and Adam uses his free hand to grasp the flaming sword that God placed at the east of the garden of Eden to guard the way back to the tree of life” (115) .

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work) :

1) Goddard, Stephen H., ed. The World in Miniature Engravings by the German Little Masters 1500 – 1550, Spencer Museum of Art: Kansas City, 1988.  Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 27 on pgs. 114-5.

About the Framing:
Conservation framed with archival materials and museum quality, this work is float mounted on archival white linen in a dark gold leaf frame.  The sculptural details of the moulding accentuate the organic linear elements in this work.  The tone of the frame complements the contrasting darks and lights of this work.  Completed with white linen wrapped mattes and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas® cover.