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Cain slaying Abel by Peter Paul Rubens

Cain slaying Abel by Peter Paul Rubens

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Cain and Abel were the two eldest sons of Adam and Eve. Both made offerings to God but when Cain’s sacrifice was rejected he killed his brother in a jealous rage. In this early painting by Rubens, the figures are still heavily influenced by the artist’s experience in Italy, particularly his study of the sculpture of classical antiquity and the work of Michelangelo.

Details

Artist
Peter Paul Rubens
Created
1608 - 1609
Medium
oil on panel
Dimension
94cm × 131cm
Passage
Genesis 4:8

Found in: Genesis, Genesis 4, 17th century

Genesis 4:8

8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

Genesis 4:8 · World English Bible

The artist

Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens

1577 - 1640

Siegen, Germany

Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish artist. He is considered the most influential artist of Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens's highly charged compositions reference erudite aspects of classical and Christian history. His unique and immensely popular Baroque style emphasized movement, colour, and sensuality, which followed the immediate, dramatic artistic style promoted in the Counter-Reformation. Rubens specialized in making altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings of mythological and allegorical subjects.

Read more about Peter Paul Rubens →

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Christ Risen by Peter Paul Rubens
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Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen, 1577 - 1640)
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