The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise

Art Historical Context

Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia, a leading Sienese painter of the early Renaissance, crafted *The Creation of the World the Expulsion from Paradise in 1445. This vibrant tempera panel on wood captures key Genesis moments: God forming the universe, crafting Adam and Eve, and their dramatic expulsion from Eden by avenging angels. Measuring just 18¼ × 20½ inches, it likely served as part of an altarpiece immersing worshippers in biblical narrative through its intimate scale. Giovanni di Paolo's style blends lingering Gothic fantasy with emerging Renaissance naturalism, hallmarks of Siena's conservative art scene amid Italy's revolutionary changes. His use of tempera—a durable egg-based paint—allowed luminous colors and fine details, while abundant gold leaf evokes divine radiance, symbolizing heaven's otherworldly glow. Quirky elements, like swirling cosmic forms and expressive figures, reflect his imaginative flair, drawing from medieval manuscripts and local traditions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Robert Lehman Collection since 1975, this masterpiece highlights 15th-century devotional art's emotional power and theological depth. Visitors will delight in its vivid storytelling, a window into faith, sin, and humanity's origins.