EXPULSION OF ADAM AND EVE
Eve rides a peacock in this painting that depicts her expulsion from the Garden of Eden. In the Islamic world, the peacock is a symbol of beauty and is often associated with royalty. Its fanciful tail and bright colors are often an inspiration for artists. In this painting, the eyespots on the tail are represented by extravagant gold flame-like blossoms on stems.
This page is from a Falnama (Book of Omens) made in sixteenth-century Iran. Adam sits on a dragon-like serpent while Eve rides a peacock. According to Muslim tradition, both creatures were lured into paradise by Satan and were expelled by God at the same time as Adam and Eve. In Persian literature, the peacock is described as presenting itself in its finery “like a new bride.”
Object Number
S1986.251
Date
mid-1550s, Safavid period
Place of Origin
Iran
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H × W: 59.7 × 44.9 cm
(23 1/2 × 17 11/16 in.)
Credit line
Purchase—Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler