A detailed miniature from the 'Très Riches Heures', depicting the temptation and expulsion of Adam and Eve in the International Gothic style.

This miniature originates from the 'Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry', a celebrated book of hours commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry. The Limbourg brothers, Herman, Paul, and Jean, produced this work during the early fifteenth century. It represents a pinnacle of the International Gothic style, characterised by its refined detail and narrative clarity.

The composition is divided into two distinct scenes within a circular frame. On the left, the temptation of Eve occurs beneath a tree, where the serpent, depicted with a human head, offers the forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve are shown in a state of innocence before their transgression. The central architectural element, a gothic fountain, acts as a visual anchor for the garden setting.

To the right, the narrative shifts to the expulsion. A figure of God, draped in a deep blue robe, addresses Adam and Eve. Beyond the garden gate, an angel with red wings drives the pair out into the wilderness. The transition from the lush, green garden to the rocky, barren landscape outside the circle creates a clear visual contrast between paradise and the fallen world. The use of gold leaf and fine pigments on vellum demonstrates the technical skill required for such small-scale works. The figures are rendered with a grace typical of the period, while the architectural details reflect the contemporary gothic style of the era. This print captures the precision of the original illumination, allowing for a close examination of the narrative sequence and the delicate brushwork employed by the artists.