Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso)
Blake considered the Bible to be the supreme poetic work. In this image, he reimagines the Old Testament subject of Eve’s creation. Instead of showing the first woman emerging from Adam’s side, Blake presents the couple meeting with ceremonial solemnity. A divine figure prepares to join their hands while a recumbent Adam looks up eagerly as his mate steps down from blue-tinged clouds. Objects in the landscape elaborate the meaning: the grapevines entwined around the tree symbolize marriage, and the exotic red and blue plumed birds represent the newly created souls. A lion dozing near lambs at lower right signals the peace of the pre-fallen world. Blake made this finished watercolor for his loyal patron Thomas Butts.
Artwork Details
- Title: Angel of the Divine Presence Bringing Eve to Adam (The Creation of Eve: "And She Shall be Called Woman) (recto); Sketch for the same (verso)
- Artist: William Blake (British, London 1757–1827 London)
- Date: ca. 1803
- Medium: Watercolor, pen and black ink, over graphite
- Dimensions: Sheet: 16 3/8 × 13 1/16 in. (41.6 × 33.2 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1906
- Object Number: 06.1322.2
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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William Blake
1841–50
Multiple artists/makers
1885, facsimile of 1790
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1904
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1965
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March 1, 1813
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