The Expulsion from Paradise

And the Lord God sent [Adam] out of the paradise of pleasure, to till the earth from which he was taken . . . and placed before the paradise of pleasure cherubim, and a flaming sword, turning every way. (Genesis 3:24)

Dressed in rough clothing, Adam and Eve are driven from the garden of Eden by an angel who menacingly raises a sword. The artist transferred the flames mentioned in the text from the sword to Eden itself: a wall of fire extends the length of the garden, effectively destroying any hope of reentry. The decorative red background of the miniature picks up the color of the flames, emphasizing the tone of anger evident in the story.