---
title: The Family of Cain
author: Peter Oliver
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14616/the-family-of-cain/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# The Family of Cain

_Authored by Peter Oliver_

## Image File

[![The Family of Cain](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14616.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14616.jpg)

## Image Caption

The Family of Cain, ink painting by Peter Oliver, after the original image by Paolo Veronese, 1638–47.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

[Cain and Abel](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1831/cain--abel/) were sons of the first humans Adam and Eve in the biblical [Book of Genesis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Book_of_Genesis/). Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. They both made sacrifices to [God](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/), but God preferred Abel's sacrifice to Cain's. Driven by jealousy, Cain murdered Abel. He was exiled for his crime, but he built a [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) and fathered the line of descendants beginning with [Enoch](https://www.worldhistory.org/Enoch/).

## Cite This Work

### APA
Oliver, P. (2021, September 13). The Family of Cain. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14616/the-family-of-cain/>
### Chicago
Oliver, Peter. "The Family of Cain." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 13, 2021. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14616/the-family-of-cain/>.
### MLA
Oliver, Peter. "The Family of Cain." *World History Encyclopedia*, 13 Sep 2021, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14616/the-family-of-cain/>.

## License & Copyright

© [Metropolitan Museum of Art](http://metmuseum.org/), NY. As part of the [Met's Open Access policy](https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/open-access), the Metropolitan Museum of Art has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this dataset. [Original image](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/339160) by [**Peter Oliver**](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/339160). Submitted by [Celina Bebenek](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/celinacyprianbe/ "User Page: Celina Bebenek"), published on 13 September 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.