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Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

Adam and Eve

Returning to a familiar scene culled from the Old Testament of the Bible, Leroy Almon depicted the story of Adam and Eve in his characteristic low-relief carved wood. In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve live in complete bliss in the Garden of Eden until they are tempted by a serpent to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. Using simple forms and bright colors, Almon depicts the moment when the pair fall from grace. Eve feeds Adam an apple as a red snake and devil watch from behind the tree. Beginning in the 1980s, Almon was both an artist and Christian preacher, often incorporating religious subjects into his work.

ArtistLeroy Almon(1938-1997)
Date1996
MediumCarved and painted wood bas relief
Dimensions35 7/8 x 11 1/4 x 3/4 in. (91.1 x 28.6 x 1.9 cm)
Signedl.r.: LA verso, c., in black marker: by Leroy Almon Sr LA 1996
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of Gordon W. Bailey, 2019.24
ClassificationSculpture
ProvenanceEstate of the Artist; to Gordon W. Bailey, Los Angeles, CA; given to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2019
On ViewNo
Adam and Eve35.9 × 11.3 in.Tennis Ball2.7 in. diameter

This artwork's face covers about 55× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.