HIERONYMUS
BOSCH

The Garden of Earthly Delights

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Hieronymus Bosch, born and raised in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, is considered one of the most enigmatic and unique painters of the late medieval period. Known for his triptychs, Bosch's paintings depict a fantastical and surreal world that continues to captivate art enthusiasts to this day.

One of Bosch's most famous triptychs is The Garden of Earthly Delights. The left panel portrays paradise with Adam and Eve and many wondrous animals, the middle panel show the earthly delights with numerous nude figures and tremendous fruit and birds, and the right panel depict hell with depictions of fantastic punishments of the various types of sinners. When the exterior panels are closed, the viewer can see, painted in grisaille, God creating the Earth.

Unlike many other painters of his time, Bosch's paintings have a rough surface from the application of paint. This contrasts with the traditional Flemish style of paintings, where the smooth surface attempts to hide the fact that the painting is man-made. This rough surface adds to the dreamlike quality of Bosch's paintings and makes them stand out in the art world.

Bosch never dated his paintings and may have signed only some of them (other signatures are certainly not his). This has made it difficult for art historians to determine the exact timeline of his work. However, fewer than 25 paintings remain today that can be attributed to him.

During the 16th century, Philip II of Spain acquired many of Bosch's paintings after the painter's death. As a result, the Prado Museum in Madrid now owns several of his works, including The Garden of Earthly Delights. This has allowed art enthusiasts from all over the world to view and appreciate Bosch's unique and captivating paintings.

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