Eve Tempted by the Serpent

1799-1800 · Tempera painting · 27.3 × 38.5 cm

May one see it?

Yes, receiving visitors

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

RoomPaintings, Room 82, The Edwin and Susan Davies Galleries

On public display.

Checked: 13 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the painting

Blake drew his inspiration for this scene from the book of Genesis in the Old Testament and from John Milton's epic poem 'Paradise Lost' (1667). Blake often experimented with painting techniques, and here the surface has flaked badly because of the poor adhesion between a glue-based paint and the copper support he used.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Particulars

Accession number: P.28-1953

What it shows

Serpent Eve

In the catalog

Paintings Tempera British painting Neoclassicism 18th century British School Great Britain

Sources

Victoria and Albert Museum
Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Meanwhile, in the life of William Blake

The whole life

1780–1808
Exhibits six times at the Royal Academy
Despite his antagonism towards Reynolds, Blake submitted works to the Royal Academy on six occasions between 1780 and 1808.
1800
Moves to Felpham for his patron Hayley
In 1800 Blake moved to a cottage at Felpham, in Sussex, to take up a job illustrating the works of William Hayley, a minor poet.
21 September 1800
A letter to Flaxman: more spirituality in Felpham
In a letter to John Flaxman of 21 September 1800 Blake calls Felpham a fine place for study: there is more spirituality there than in London, and Heaven opens on all sides. He says that for his works he is honoured in Heaven more than he could have thought.
1800–1803
Disenchantment with his patron Hayley
Over time Blake came to resent his patron, believing that Hayley was uninterested in true artistry and preoccupied with “the meer drudgery of business”. This disenchantment has been speculated to have influenced “Milton”, where Blake wrote that “Corporeal Friends are Spiritual Enemies”.
September 1800 – September 1803 · Workplace
Felpham