Adam bearing the murdered body of Abel

This composition with a biblical theme depicts the final act of the drama between the sons of Adam – Cain and Abel. After the envious Cain kills his brother Abel, their father, Adam, dressed in a leather loincloth, carries the lifeless body of his son slung over his shoulder. Behind him walks their mother, Eve, faltering as she follows. Eve, dressed in a leather mantle, turns her head away from the horrifying sight of her dead son, sobbing as she covers her face with one hand while placing the other on her heart. The figures are shown from a low perspective, which monumentalises them. The scene unfolds in an expansive, cloudy landscape, with the setting and the dramatic rendering of the figures enhancing the solemn and elevated tone of the event. This illustration is derived from The Death of Abel by Salomon Gessner (1730–1788), published in London in 1799 by John Murphy (Book IV, Edition 1, No. 1). A counterpart to this composition was The Departure of Cain, illustrating Book V of Gessner’s work. The second edition of both engravings was released in 1800, indicating significant public interest. The original engraving was created by the English painter Henry Singleton (1766–1839), an active portraitist in London who also depicted biblical scenes, historical events contemporary to his time, and illustrations for the works of William Shakespeare. The engraver, James Godby (1767–1849), also based in London, specialised in reproductive prints and book illustrations on diverse subjects, contributing to publications such as the Literary Magazine. Godby was noted for his mastery of the stipple engraving technique. The publisher of the engraving, John Murphy (c. 1755–1832), was an Irishman working in London as an engraver, publisher of educational works, and a bookseller. Ewa Gwiazdowska