Comments on: The Creation, God Introducing Adam and Eve – An Illustration by Jean Fouquet

By: D. Thorpe

D. Thorpe — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:51:18 +0000

Google Image: Creation of Eve. Note also how many hand & wrist grasping in these early to later Christian art works! Also, how that along side these are depictions of the pre-existence, that show the council in heaven, etc. God also weds Adam & Eve in these creation depictions too!

The Creation of Eve. Early 13th C. Illumination. Psalter of Saint Louis and Blanche of Castille. Paris, Bibliotheque de l’Arsenal, MS 1186, f. 10. P. D’Ancona & E. Aeschlimann. The Art of Illumination. London: Phaidon, 1969. plate 73
http://www.uvm.edu/~lbrought/eve–stlouis.gif

Nuremberg Chronicles, creation of Eve.
http://www.beloit.edu/nuremberg/book/images/Old%20Testament/small/Creation%20of%20Eve%20VIv.jpg

Creation of Adam (Ghiberti)
http://www.logoi.com/pastimages/img/creation_1.jpg

The Creation of Eve (Pisano)
http://www.logoi.com/pastimages/img/creation_2.jpg

Creation of Eve c.1530, Anonymous, Antwerp. MUSEE ST-DENIS, REIMS
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/uploads/images/Story%202%239%23.jpg

Book of Hours of Louis of Orleans , creation of Eve.
http://www.moleiro.com/base.php?libro=LHLO&idioma=en

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:20:49 +0000

Look at the angel in the top left corner with the green robe. Someone commented it looks like he’s roasting a hot dog. Could that be a scepter in his hand? I just read the article about the Ankh (part 3). It has an image called “was” that looks very similar to what that angel has in his hands. It stands for power, dominion, and the priesthood. Makes perfect sense to have it in this painting.

By: Ferreira

Ferreira — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:07:27 +0000

Very interesting, thank you everyone for your insight!
In the Fouquet illumination, with my modern, LDS eye I see a division of sacred space and a model of our life’s journey.

-Perhaps the fish in sea represent Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1) … the forces of Chaos/Satan, who are allowed to come up from their depths to bite or tempt the children of Adam now swimming in the sea.

-The current fallen state of the world as a telestial realm is represented by the sea. While in sea we must have faith and hope in Christ to anchor us (Ether 12:4; James 1:6), and we must righteously direct our life as with a helm "in the time of a storm" (D&C 123:16).

-The Garden of Eden as a terrestrial realm is represented by the land and is protected from defilement by the castle wall.

-The Holy of Holies is represented by God in heaven. It is brought to earth by God himself to the midst/middle of the Garden. His robe acts as a veil to define the boundary of the most holy space. In such an intimate setting, exact obedience is required; there is no room to hide one's sins or pride! Adam and Eve are literally encircled about by God’s robe of righteousness in unity and at-one-ness (2 Nephi 4:33). In this place and condition the marriage covenant is made such that it may be binding on earth and in heaven.

This is the path of our return to the Father.

By: Sasha LDS Friend

Sasha LDS Friend — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:12:36 +0000

There is one more masterpiece with the sacred handclasp:
Guillielmus PALUDANUS, The Garden of Eden or Love, 1567 –
http://www.wga.hu/art/p/paludanu/garden.jpg

And a picture with interesting aprons on Adam and Eve just before their expulsion from Eden:
Aureliano MILANI, Expulsion of Adam and Eve – http://www.wga.hu/art/m/milani/expulsio.jpg

By: Lisa D

Lisa D — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:27:59 +0000

De-lurking to comment on one of my favorite works of art: I did much of my Masters (Art History) and PhD (Traditional Arts) research on symbols of the sacred in art, with a particular emphasis on the use of sacred geometry in art and architecture. I encountered and studied this illumination, but ran out of time to include it in my dissertation.

It is important to note that the figures arcing through the sky are not a random collection of symbols. They are the signs of the zodiac, of which we can only see the six spring and summer months (reading from left to right): Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo. The signs of the zodiac are richly laden with their own symbolism, and this span of it was undoubtedly carefully chosen by the artist. If you look closely, you can see that Gemini is represented by 2 figures, not one. And although Cancer is identified as “the crab,” medieval artists throughout both the Christian and Islamic worlds felt free to substitute another crustacean to represent the astrological sign.

While each of the zodiac signs can be interpreted in such a way that it points to Christ, perhaps this particular six month range was chosen because Aries, the Ram, is associated with the Easter season, and Virgo, the Virgin was associated with Mary. More importantly, it is only appropriate to show the birth of the world and the first marriage under the governance of the spring and summer seasons. (To instead show the signs of harvest, death, and dormancy would be obviously wrong here.) There are uncountable works of art contemporary with this one that rely on the symbols of the Zodiac to carry another level of meaning to the viewer.

I recommend turning to medieval sources for clues to the interpretation of this particular illumination to avoid reading things into it. Writings by theologians associated with School of Chartres, for example, would be a good place to start looking at era-appropriate (and geographically likely) influences on the theology and cosmology that inspired this beautiful illumination.

I do love the inclusion of Mary and the infant Christ in the margin, especially as it sets up an elegant parallel of the enclosed garden of Eden with Mary, thus foreshadowing the coming of the Savior. I am going to have to go back to my research to see if I have a color reproduction of the whole page!

By: Inthedoghouse

Inthedoghouse — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:33:37 +0000

Wow…this picture truly could be studied for hours. I believe that we all need to pass through three veils of water in this life (birth, baptism, death and resurrection). This picture simply gives me more added insight into that thought process. Perhaps the symbol of the rainbow in correlation with the veil is that of the process of the “Son” reflecting through the water?

By: Mormon Soprano

Mormon Soprano — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:20:18 +0000

Excellent !- I was actually just getting ready to send to you the additions which you have now included! Like minds searching the internet…
What I particularly find fascinating in the Duvet engraving is that God is depicted wearing a bejeweled apron over his flowing robe – click on the detailed image shots found HERE

By: Mormon Soprano

Mormon Soprano — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:07:31 +0000

Very cool! Too bad I cannot make out the inscription. (combo of my old eyes and Fouquet’s old Latin) However isn’t it amazing the intricacies of the entire page? The details and precision are just incredible! Everything was done painstakingly by hand – it is a complete masterpiece.

I love the queen with her lady in waiting holding an infant sitting in the margin watching over the proceedings. Very interesting detail.

By: Bryce Haymond

Bryce Haymond — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:58:21 +0000

I’ve added a few more examples from the same time period to the main post above. Apparently this iconography was somewhat popular in medieval France. I wonder what other examples are out there.

By: Bryce Haymond

Bryce Haymond — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:08:28 +0000

I found a scan of the entire page from a book entitled “Jehan Foucquet, native of Tours” by Trenchard Cox (page 88). You can see the full page image here. It is interesting to note that in this book the title of the illustration is “The Marriage of Adam and Eve.”