Hieronymus Bosch was and remains one of the most mysterious artists. Bosch paintings always contain many symbols of Christian themes and are full of hidden meanings, which experts in various fields of art are still trying to solve. There is a whole list of allegories and symbols art historians have defined on Bosch paintings. But some continue to see only demon art in hell painting.
Bosch was born in Holland in 1450. His work belongs to the Northern Renaissance art. He grew up in a religious family and inherited the artist’s talent from his father and grandfather. Bosch’s main themes were religious motifs, and his surrealistic scenes and images set him apart from all other medieval artists and make him unique. We bring to your attention 10 examples of the Renaissance art of Jerome Bosch, collected in the online collection of Hieronymus Bosch.
1. The Garden of Earthly Delights
No doubt this is the most famous work of Bosch. It is made in the form of a triptych by order for members of the royal family. Even though the central part is the fifth part of the triptych, the work must be read in the direction from left to right. The first canvas is an illustration of the Garden of Eden, with naked Adam and Eve. Next to them, we see strange animals and a fountain as a symbol of the source of life.
The central part of the triptych depicts the scene of the garden of pleasure itself, where people create whatever they like. Here Bosch mentioned many sinful acts. And the idea of hell completes the idea, where souls receive punishments for their sins. Art historians assure that among these characters in the form of a tree man, Bosch even portrayed himself.
2. Christ Carrying the Cross
Its authorship was challenged and art historians believed that it was painted by one of Bosch’s followers. In 1902, this work was acquired by the Ghent’s Museum of Fine Arts. The painting depicts the scene of the carrying of the cross by Jesus Christ. His face and of the Mother are the only ones depicted in soft strokes and tones. The rest of the characters look disgusting, conveying the author’s attitude to the participants in this action. This painting is called one of the most hallucinatory works of Western art.
3. Table of the Seven Deadly Sins
The work is made in the form of a circle depicting the seven deadly sins. In the center, in a golden halo, a figure of Jesus Christ is depicted with the words “Caution, God is watching.” Outside the circle of mortal sins, Bosch depicted the plots of the last four events – death, judgment, hell, and glory.
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The earliest owner of this work is King Philip II of Spain. This painting was exhibited at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de Escorial. She remained there until the Prado Museum acquired it. The authorship of this picture is also in doubt.
4. The temptation of St. Anthony
The work depicts St. Anthony, who led a hermit life in the desert. Although in the picture we see a lot of demonic creatures surrounding him, the image of the Saint looks serene and meditating. The creation of this work dates from around 1490. It is stored in the Madrid Museum del Prado.
5. Death and the Miser
Bosch uses the typical theme of good and evil. In the picture, he depicted a man on his deathbed. There is a fight for his soul between the good forces in the form of an angel and holy crucifix, and the forces of evil in the view of several demons. Art historians believe that this painting could be part of the triptych before it was dismantled. Currently, the work is exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
6. The Haywain
By its motives, this work is very similar to the triptych of the Garden of Earthly Delights, which reveals the theme of sin from the communion of Adam and Eve with God in the Garden of Eden to the punishment for sins in hell. In the Haywain triptych, the central part depicts a haystack on which the “oasis of the saints” is located on sinful earth. A version of this masterpiece is stored at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de Escorial.
7. Temptations of St. Anthony
This triptych in closed form depicts the way of Jesus Christ to be crucified at Calvary. The open wings of the triptych illustrate the life and struggle of St. Anthony, his battle with temptations. This product, like many other Bosch triptychs, is surreal, as it contains many monstrous creatures.
8. The Conjurer
In this picture, Bosch moved away from his usual religious themes. He portrays a street magician and his tricks in front of a crowd of onlookers. At this time, his partner in crime picks the pockets of an enthusiastic audience. Bosch reflects the naivety and excessive enthusiasm of people for magic, tricks, and entertainment. Art historians suggest that Bosch took this plot from what he saw on the streets of his hometown.
9. The Adoration of the Magi
This triptych is exhibited at the Museum del Prado and depicts a picture of the worship and offering of gifts by the Magi to Jesus born. The nude character looking out of the crib door causes a lot of debate among art critics. Some see him as Adam, some claim that this is the image of King Herod or the Antichrist. Fantastic buildings in the background illustrate Bethlehem.
10. The Last Judgment
Currently, this triptych is presented in the Vienna Gallery of Paintings of the Academy of Arts. It is dated around the beginning of the XVI century. The first part of the triptych depicts the Garden of Eden and the fall of man. The second part is the punishment of sinners on the Day of Judgment.
And the final part is an illustration of the terrible hell where Satan takes possession of the souls of the condemned sinners. There is a triptych similar to this one and it is on display at the Groeningemuseum in Bruges, Belgium.
