Hieronymus Bosch: “The Garden of Earthly Delights” (and its influence)

Hieronymus Bosch - Triptych of Garden of Earthly Delights - c. 1500 - Oil on panel, central panel: 220 x 195 cm, wings: 220 x 97 cm - Museo del Prado, Madrid (click photo for larger image)

“Artists bring Hieronymus Bosch's triptych into the 21st century with Kate Moss, emojis, and Dr. Martens.” This is the opener of an article by Layne Goldman and Stefanie Waldek, featured in the July 3, 2014 issue of “ARTnews” magazine. The article is a discussion of contemporary works based on the great Bosch painting—all of which address paradise, hell, and the “earthly delights” in between. The article is a fascinating read and a number of wonderful interpretations are included.  But…there isn’t a complete photo of the great master’s original version—so we’re providing that here.

Bosch’s painting is one of the most enigmatic pictures ever made. It’s captivated and puzzled audiences for centuries. Despite the theme, it was never destined for a religious setting. Rather, it’s a conversation piece to be closely viewed and discussed among friends or visitors. It can be read on many levels, from the literal to the allegorical. You’ll note just a few of possible interpretations in the “ARTnews” article. You may have to acquire a free subscription to “ARTnews” (by entering your e-mail address) but this is a publication you art lovers will want to have at your fingertips!

The Literal Middle Ages

Hieronymus Bosch - Last Judgment (fragment of Hell) - 1504-08 - Oil on panel, Private collectionMedieval culture was quite literal. Hell really did consist of flames, Heaven was a place of beautiful gardens, and monsters most definitely existed to the people of the Middle Ages. This mindset offered endless possibilities to the artists of the age--and none was more creative in this regard than Hieronymous Bosch. For centuries, artists, illustrators, puppeteers, set designers, and art directors have been looking to medieval art for inspiration--and to feed their imaginations. Click on the link above to learn more about this fascinating, rather paradoxical--and most creative artist!

Hieronymus Bosch

Hieronymus Bosch. Temptation of St. Anthony. Central panel. 1500. Oil on panel. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon, Portugal.

Bosch was a brilliant and highly original Flemish painter of the late Middle Ages. His work is characterized by unusual, fantastic, iconography--and embodies a complex and wholly individual style. Bosch was regarded as a highly imaginative “creator of devils” and a powerful inventor of seeming nonsense full of satirical meaning--which in and of itself is quite a feat. Closer scrutiny also reveals a demonstrated insight into the depths of the human mind and spirit. Hieronymous Bosch is most definitely one of my greatest mentors--and a powerful source of inspiration for me, as a painter. When examining such creations as his--and of other medieval painters, like Ambrogio Lorenzetti, I cannot help but wonder what all the fuss is about with regard to the characters in James Cameron's film, Avatar. Frankly--they cannot hold a torch to these guys!