Temptation of Adam

Edgar Tolson, Temptation of Adam, 1974, carved and painted wood, 14 3412 148 in. (37.531.120.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.272

Artwork Details

Title
Temptation of Adam
Artist
Date
1974
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
14 3412 148 in. (37.531.120.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — reptile — snake
  • State of being — evil — temptation
  • Landscape — tree — apple tree
  • Religion — Old Testament — Eve
  • Religion — Old Testament — Adam
Object Number
1986.65.272

Artwork Description

Edgar Tolson created around a hundred carvings that show Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He believed that this event, along with the crucifixion of Christ, was one of the most important in history because it symbolized human weakness. (Michael D. Hall, "You Make It with Your Mind," The Clarion, 1987) In this piece, Tolson left the wood bare to symbolize the innocence of the first couple, but painted the snake black to highlight the devil's wickedness.

Works by this artist (5 items)

Stephen Parrish, On the Schroon--Drought, n.d., etching, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1972.117
On the Schroon – Drought
Daten.d.
etching
Not on view
Stephen Parrish, November, n.d., etching, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Graphic Arts, Smithsonian Institution, 1971.244
November
Daten.d.
etching
Not on view
Stephen Parrish, Mills at Mispek, n.d., etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1969.20.18
Mills at Mispek
Daten.d.
etching on paper
Not on view
Stephen Parrish, Fishery on the Dee, n.d., etching, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1973.18.3
Fishery on the Dee
Daten.d.
etching
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Oliver Tarbell Eddy, Self-Portrait, ca. 1850, oil on tin, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.3
Self-Portrait
Dateca. 1850
oil on tin
Not on view
Jacob Maentel, Portrait of Elizabeth Sweitzer Musser, ca. 1826, watercolor and pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.5
Portrait of Elizabeth Sweitzer Musser
Dateca. 1826
watercolor and pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Jacob Maentel, Portrait of Adam Musser, ca. 1822, watercolor and pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.9
Portrait of Adam Musser
Dateca. 1822
watercolor and pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Ammi Phillips, Portrait of Helen (Lena) Ten Broeck, 1834, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.10
Portrait of Helen (Lena) Ten Broeck
Date1834
oil on canvas
On view