Eve Tempted

Artist George Frederick Watts (London, England, 1817 - 1904)

Date1881

Mediumoil on canvas

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 66.2 cm, Width: 43.1 cm
Frame: Height: 96.8 cm, Width: 74.1 cm

AcquisitionAlexander Macdonald Bequest, 1901.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG003398

Keywords

About MeFrom the age of ten George Frederick Watts worked in the studio of a sculptor William Behnes and in the 1840s he spent a period in Florence. In Italy Watts studied fresco painting and turned increasingly towards allegorical subjects.

Eve, leaning forward to take the apple in her mouth, is shown at the exact moment of her fall from grace. The serpent, huge and dragon-like, coils through the tree. At Eve's feet, a very benign leopard rolls over sensuously, looking more like a pantomime cat than a wild beast.

The rich colours and intertwining forms of 'Eve Tempted' have been inspired by the paintings of the Venetian Renaissance.

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Eve shown at the moment of her fall from grace with the serpent coiling through the apple tree and a rather benign looking leopard at her feet