The First Mourning

The First Mourning (in French Premier Deuil) is an oil on canvas painted in 1888 by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Its dimensions are 203x252 cm. It is in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This work depicts the moment after Adam and Eve just found the body of their son Abel, who was murdered by Cain. This is the first human death recorded in the Bible.

Bouguereau had suffered the loss of his second son shortly before painting this work.

Its original name is "Premier Deuil", in French, of which "The First Mourning" is a literal translation.