Cain and Abel, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery" 1880 - 1881

"Cain and Abel" is an engraving by Frederic Leighton, made as part of "Dalziels' Bible Gallery." Leighton, as president of the Royal Academy, stood at the heart of the British art establishment. Here, he brings his academic sensibilities to bear on the charged biblical story of fratricide. Cain is depicted fleeing, his brother Abel’s body lying among the rocks behind him. Biblical narratives have long been a site where societal anxieties around morality, family, and power play out. Leighton’s “Cain and Abel” is no exception. What does it mean to depict such a foundational story of sin and guilt? How does Leighton invite the viewer to consider not just the act of murder, but its implications for humanity? The engraving leaves us to consider the weight of this legacy. It asks us to confront the complex relationship between divine law, human failing, and the burden of history.