Ref: W586
Archive item - not for sale
Italian Maoilica Istoriato Crispino, Urbino, third quarter of the 16th century, from the workshop of Guido Durantino (Guido Fontana), with a biblical scene of Cain and Abel at an altar offering their respective sacrifices to God; who appears above, bearded and crowned, in a cloud of smoke representing the arc of heaven, turning towards Abel in satisfaction at his offering, while Cain and his offering, the lamb just visible in the flames, are shunned, all in an Italian landscape with mountains and a town visible in the background; the reverse inscribed with ‘Haim e Abel’ in underglaze blue SOLD
Dimensions:
Diameter: 24.5 cm. (9 5/8 in.)
Condition:
Hair-line to rim
Notes:
After a Venetian bible woodcut of 1576.
According to Genesis, Cain and Abel were the first two sons of Adam and Eve. Cain, the eldest, was a farmer while his brother Abel was a shepherd. As depicted on this crispino, the brothers each made sacrifices to God (Abel offering produce of the land; Cain offering a lamb), who favoured the offering of the younger brother. Incensed, Cain killed Abel in a jealous rage, and was banished by God as punishment. An exile from his homeland, Cain dwelled in the land of Nod (‘wandering’), where he built a city and fathered a line of descendants beginning with Enoch.
The scene illustrates Genesis 4:1 3-6: ‘In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.’
