God Commanding Adam and Eve

1760s

Franz Karl Palko

Associated Names
Franz Karl Palko

Artist, Czech, 1724 - 1767/1770

This is a drawing of a scene involving a tree, a snake, and human figures. The drawing depicts a scene beneath a large tree full of fruit. A cloud-like formation emerges from the tree with a figure sitting on it and pointing downward. Below, two figures interact with the environment. One figure stands with folded arms, while another sits on the ground and gestures. A serpent is seen nearby. The style of the drawing is detailed and intricate, focusing on line work and shading to convey texture and depth in the figures, tree, and forms. Text at the bottom of the artwork suggests a narrative.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of The Ahmanson Foundation

  • Dimensions

    plate: 24 x 17 cm (9 7/16 x 6 11/16 in.)
    sheet: 20.5 x 21.2 cm (8 1/16 x 8 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1999.98.7

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Nagler, no. 4

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Wilhelm Soldan, Berlin, after 1950 (Lugt undescribed). (sale, Galerie Gerda Bassenge, Berlin, 4-5 June 1999, no. 5934); (C. G. Boerner, New York); purchased 1999 by NGA with funds contributed by The Ahmanson Foundation.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1835

  • Nagler, G.K. Neues allgemeines Kunstler-Lexikon, oder Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken der Maler, Bildhauer, Baumeister, Kupferstecher, Formschneider, Lithographen, Zeichner, Medailleure, Elfenbeinarbeiter, etc.. 22 vols. Munich: E.A. Fleischmann, no. 4.

Inscriptions

across bottom in plate: De ligno autem scientiae boni, et mali ne comedas. / In quocunque enim die comederis ex eo, morte morieris. / Genes. C. 2. v. 17.; lower left in plate: Xa: Palko fe: junior membr: Acade: cesareae.; by later hand, lower right in graphite: 2275

Wikidata ID

Q75424957

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