Hardham: After The Fall

[poliphilo]

Adam and Eve get busy inventing agriculture. They don't look happy about it. Adam wrangles some unruly vines while Eve milks a cow.

A cow? Really? All the commentators say that's what it is, but I think it's a deer. The painter surely knew what a cow looked like- and that's never a cow. Consider the delicate skull and those elegant hind legs.

Either way, the image of Eve milking a whateveritis may well be unique in European art. I can't think of another example.

Comments

[oakmouse]

It does look very like a deer, and I don't know of any medieval cattle varieties that were so slender.

Also, I think you're right that it's unique; I don't recall seeing another depiction of Eve milking anything, and although European art wasn't my concentration I did end up studying a lot of it in the required survey courses.

[poliphilo]

Something I read suggested the conventional thing was to show Eve spinning or weaving.

[oakmouse]

Very much so. "When Adam dolve and Eve span who was then the gentleman?"

[cmcmck]

Horse?

[poliphilo]

I don't think so- but it's more like a horse than a cow.