Adam and Eve (1504)
Albrecht Durer (1472-1528)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
We know quite a bit about this reserved, rather melancholy German artist from his legacy of engravings, writings, self portraits and personal letters. In this symbolic copper engraving, Durer takes us to paradise poised to fall. The serpent gives Eve the fatal apple while Adam reaches out his hand to receive it.
Umm...is it my imagination, or does it look more like AR is reaching out for Eve's fig leaf instead of the apple?
Durer used strict mathematical theory to proportion the bodies of his Biblical couple. Their shapes were considered the perfect dimentions for men and women of Durer's time period.
I wish women with double chins, plump bellies and chubby thighs
were still considered the height of perfection. I'd be queen!
Durer is sometimes called 'the first great Protestant painter'.
He traveled extensively and left behind a vast collection.
Click image above to go to the next page, or choose a thumbnail below
to go directly to that FAMOUS ARt.
to go directly to that FAMOUS ARt.