The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise 1791

Benjamin West's "The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise" (1791) depicts the biblical story of Adam and Eve being driven from the Garden of Eden. An angel, with wings outstretched, forcibly expels Adam and Eve. Eve kneels, clutching Adam's arm, her face a mask of despair. The painting is a powerful depiction of the consequences of sin, and the loss of innocence. West's style, with its dramatic composition and attention to detail, helped solidify his reputation as a leading painter of history and religious subjects.