John Martin (Haydon Bridge, Hexham 1789-1854 Douglas, Isle of Man)

The present watercolour is related to Martin’s important oil painting, Adam’s first sight of Eve, 1813 (Glasgow Museums), which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1813 with the quotation from Milton, 'Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, wrought on her so, that, seeing me, she turned.’ The setting in the picture is similar to that of the present watercolour, the main difference being in the pose of Adam and Eve.

We are grateful to Michael Campell for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.