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Hieronymus Bosch – Religious Zealot or Heretic
The Life of Hieronymus Bosch
The startlingly fantastical paintings of late-gothic artist Hieronymus Bosch have been a source of conflicting interpretations for years. Even his moral stance is disputed. His highly complex, original work clearly shows that religious experience was the primary influence over the subject matter he chose to paint. In order to craft his bizarre style of painting, Bosch incorporates his own interpretation of religious teachings, concentrating on the carnal sins of mankind.
Bosch’s avid use of symbolism and motifs show up in the great majority of his work, and open a window to look into his views of the intertwining of mankind and religion. These vivid images of religion that Bosch concentrates into his work are so bizarre that in the seventeenth century he was reputed to be a heretic. Bosch spares no details in the imagery associated with man being tortured and punished for sin, with stark symbols of retribution and warning. At the same time, he creates images of sin in some works that are very alluring to the viewer, exactly what the Church was trying to avoid showing. With such a strong sense of religion surrounding all aspects of life in the Netherlands during his lifetime it is no wonder that his works display such a vast collage of biblical parables. Using triptychs as his signature form of painting and religious themed subject matter, Bosch was able to become quite famous for his controversial artwork.
Almost every one of his documented works of art appeared in or illustrated a religious setting. These commissions prove that, although some may consider his work heretical, Bosch can hardly be called a heretic. If he were a heretic in any manner, he would not have been offered, nor would he have accepted commissions from the church, or followed biblical stories so closely. Bosch is not a heretic, he is a pessimist. He follows the teachings of the Dutch church during his era, teaching that carnal sins result in going to Hell. His work devoted to the Church along with the scripture-based messages found in his artwork provide enough information to conclude that Bosch did not seek to dissuade others from following the word of God, but instead sought to frighten them and strengthen their devotion to upholding a moral path through life.
Response Prompts:
1. Do you believe Hieronymus Bosch was a heretic or a religious man? Compare and contrast how he portrays the acts of sin and suffering in The Garden of Earthly Delights, and which has more influence over the viewers.
2. Choose one of the works shown in this presentation and develop a bizarre creative story about an absurd sin you (as a character in the piece), committed in order to end up in your predicament of torture in the last panel of the triptych.
3. State any questions you have about Hieronymus Bosch that my presentation left unanswered. Include suggestions of areas that I can add more information about.
