Who painted Adam and Eve, with Cain and Abel?

Adam and Eve, with Cain and Abel was painted by Luca Giordano in 1679.

Where can I see Adam and Eve, with Cain and Abel?

Adam and Eve, with Cain and Abel is held by National Gallery of Ireland.

Artwork

Adam and Eve, with Cain and Abel

Adam and Eve, with Cain and Abel is an oil painting by Luca Giordano. It dates from 1679 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.

About this work

Overview

Luca Giordano’s oil on canvas, dated around 1679, portrays the biblical family of Adam, Eve, and their sons Cain and Abel. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, where it is displayed among the museum’s Baroque holdings.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a domestic moment: Adam sits on the left, Eve on the right, each turning their attention toward their children. The subtle gestures—Adam’s hand on Cain’s shoulder and Eve’s light touch on Abel’s hand—convey a sense of parental affection and unity before the narrative of fratricide unfolds.

Technique & Style

Giordano employs a restrained palette dominated by earthy hues, lending the scene a naturalistic atmosphere. The figures are rendered with soft modelling and gentle chiaroscuro, while the surrounding landscape remains understated, allowing the family’s interaction to remain the focal point of the painting.

History & Provenance

Created in the late seventeenth century, the canvas entered the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection at an unspecified date, where it has been conserved as an example of Giordano’s later work. Its presence in the gallery reflects the broader acquisition of Baroque religious paintings by Irish institutions during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Artist & collection

Artist

Luca Giordano

Luca Giordano was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Giordano was one of the most celebrated artists of the Neapolitan Baroque, whose vast output included altarpieces, mythological paintings and…