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'''The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden''' (Italian: '''Cacciata dei progenitori dall'Eden''') is a fresco by renowned early-Renaissance artist Masaccio. The fresco itself was painted on the wall of Brancacci Chapel, in the Santa Maria del Carmine church in Florence, Italy. It depicts a famous scene in the Hebrew Bible (or the Christian Old Testament), the expulsion from the garden from Genesis 3, albeit with a few differences from the canonical account.

Contents

Differences from Genesis

Possible sources of inspiration

Defacing and restoration

Influence on Michelangelo

See also

External links

Differences from Genesis

Two main inconsistencies exist in this painting that serve to deviate it from the account as it appears in Genesis:

★ First and most dramatic of all, Adam and Eve are shown in the nude. Although this increases the drama of the scene, it differs from Genesis xxx.21 which states, "And the LORD GOD make skin coats for the human and his woman, and He clothed them."{quoted from Robert Alter's recent translation}. It is not until verse 24 that the two are driven out of the garden.

★ Secondly, only one angel is present. Genesis xxx.34 states that Cherub''im'' were present at the entrance ('-im' being the Hebrew plural ending).
The arch depicted at the garden entrace also does not appear in the Biblical account.

Possible sources of inspiration

Many possible sources of inspiration have been pointed out that Masaccio may have drawn from. For Adam, possible references include numerous sculptures of Marsyas (from Greek Mythology) and certain crucifix done by Donatello.
For Eve, art analysts usually point to different versions of Venus Pudica, such as ''Prudence'' by Giovanni Pisano and that shown here.

Defacing and restoration

Three centuries after the fresco being painted, Cosimo III de' Medici came to power. Viewing nudity as disgusting, he ordered that fig leaves be drawn to conceal the more questionable areas of the figures. (see iconoclasm)
This was eventually removed in the 1980's when the painting was fully restored and cleaned.

Influence on Michelangelo

Masaccio provided a large inspiration to the more famous Renaissance painter Michelangelo, due to the fact that Michelangelo's teacher, Ghirlandaio, looked almost exclusively to him for inspiration for his religious scenes. Ghirlandaio also imitated various designs done by Masaccio. This influence is most visible in Michelangelo's "The Fall of Man and the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden" on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

See also

★ Masaccio

★ Fresco

★ Adam and Eve

★ Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

★ The Fall of Man

External links

★ About.com article

★ Another Article

★ Information on Eve and Venus pudica

★ Information on Adam and his precedents