Jan Mostaert
North Netherlandish, c. 1475–1555/56
Eve and Four Children
c. 1520
Eve is shown surrounded by her children, sitting just outside the cave where she and Adam lived, following their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. When her eldest sons Cain and Abel made offerings to God, only Abel's was accepted, and Cain murdered his brother in a jealous rage. These episodes can be seen unfolding, in miniature, in the background.
| Medium | tempera possibly with some oil on panel |
| Dimensions | 14 1/2 x 11 1/8 in. (36.8 x 28.3 cm) |
| Object Number | 1955.946 |
| Acquisition | Acquired by Sterling and Francine Clark before 1955 |
| Status | Off View |
Image Caption
Jan Mostaert, Eve and Four Children, c. 1520, tempera possibly with some oil on panel. Clark Art Institute, 1955.946
Select Bibliography
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Exhibit Eight: 15th and 16th Century Paintings. Exhibition catalogue. Williamstown, MA: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1957.
F. X. de Burtin.. Traité des Connaissances Nécessaires aux Amateurs des Tableux.. Brussels.. 1808..
Waagen, Gustave Friedrich. Hubert und Jan van Eyck. Breslau. 1822.
M. J. P. Passavant.. in Messager des Sciences Historiques de Belgique.. Gand.. 1841..
K. Steinbart.. "Jan Mostaert's 'Erste Familie.'". 16.. Pantheon.. 1935..
Frankfurter, Alfred. "Now the Old Masters at Williamstown." Art News 56, no. 8 (December 1957): 2831, 523.
Anonymous. "La Collezione Clark." Sele Arte 6, no. 34 (JanuaryFebruary 1958): 34-36.
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. List of Paintings in the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Williamstown, MA: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1970.
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. List of Paintings in the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute. Williamstown, MA: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1972.
Philip R. Berk.. "Et Adam dilexit Abel: Jan Mostaert's First Family.". 96:4.. Oud Holland.. (1982).:pp. 201-212..
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. List of Paintings in the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Williamstown, MA: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1984.
James Snyder. Northern Renaissance Art: Paintings, Sculpture, the Graphic Arts from 1350 to 1575.. New York: Abrams.. 1985.
Kern, Steven, ed. List of Paintings in the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Williamstown, MA: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1992.
