How you can use this image
This image has been made available under a Creative Commons Zero licence (CC0). This means it can be used in any way, for commercial or non-commercial purposes.
Please acknowledge the collection who own the work with a photo credit — this helps spread the word about their resources.
To learn more about image reuse and Creative Commons, please see our image use page.
DownloadNotes
Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.
Nash made this wood engraving to illustrate the first English translation of 'Abd-er-Rahman in Paradise' by Jules Tellier, 1928. This story tells of the death of Abd-er-Rhaman in Constantine and his choice of whether to ascend to Christian or Muslim heaven.
It describes his journey through Paradise and the Garden of Delights until eventually he becomes bored of pleasure. The tale has a moral twist, the reader is told that at the end 'the wisest thing to crave at the end of our mortal journey is ... the stillness of sleep'.
This design neatly separates out the various stages of Abd-er Rhaman's journey and by use of overlapping planes suggests his movement from one heaven to another.
It describes his journey through Paradise and the Garden of Delights until eventually he becomes bored of pleasure. The tale has a moral twist, the reader is told that at the end 'the wisest thing to crave at the end of our mortal journey is ... the stillness of sleep'.
This design neatly separates out the various stages of Abd-er Rhaman's journey and by use of overlapping planes suggests his movement from one heaven to another.
Title
Heaven
Date
1928
Medium
wood engraving on white Japon paper
Measurements
H 25.1 x W 19 cm
Accession number
385/1974/1
Work type
Inscription description
Heaven 385/1974/1 Paul Nash
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
Queen Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3RX England
This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue