In Tate Britain
Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- Frederic, Lord Leighton 1830–1896
- Medium
- Wood engraving on paper
- Dimensions
- Image: 178 x 159 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by Gilbert Dalziel 1924
- Reference
- A00731
Display caption
This design illustrates the story of the first two sons of Adam and Eve, Cain a farmer and Abel a shepherd. The brothers sacrifice the products of their labour to God: Cain offers meat from his flock and Abel the results of his harvest. But God was more pleased with Abel’s offering, and Cain’s jealousy results in the brutal murder of his brother, shown here.
Leighton suffered from producing such detailed work; he wrote to the Dalziels, ‘I very much regret I find that the minute work – which I cannot satisfy myself – on these drawings has proved terribly trying to my eyes’.
Gallery label, July 2008
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Frederic, Lord Leighton Death of the First Born
published 1881
Frederic, Lord Leighton Abram and the Angel
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Frederic, Lord Leighton Samson and the Lions
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Frederic, Lord Leighton Moses Views the Promised Land
published 1881
Frederic, Lord Leighton Samson Carrying the Gate
published 1881
Frederic, Lord Leighton Samson at the Mill
published 1881
Frederic, Lord Leighton And the Sea Gave Up the Dead Which Were in It
exhibited 1892
Frederic, Lord Leighton Eliezer and Rebekah
published 1881
Frederic, Lord Leighton A Recognition from ‘Romola’, engraved by Swain
published 1862
Frederic, Lord Leighton The Spies Escape
published 1881
Frederic, Lord Leighton Study for ‘The Discovery of Juliet Apparently Lifeless’
c.1858
Frederic, Lord Leighton Sketches for Cimon and Iphigenia
date not known
Frederic, Lord Leighton Cimon and Iphigenia, with Many Smaller Subjects
date not known
Frederic, Lord Leighton Helios and Rhodes
date not known
Frederic, Lord Leighton Preparing for a Festa, Florence
date not known