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)