

Since little is known about Bosch and he didn’t date his work, art historians have made their best estimate by taking into consideration a number of factors, including the age of the wood panels and the inclusion of a pineapple-a New World fruit that means it must be painted after Columbus’s voyage to America. It's also left his artwork up for lively debate, as art historians try to interpret the symbols in his work. For Renaissance period artists, historians rely heavily on written records, but as none of Bosch’s writings have survived, this puts them at a loss. We don’t know his birth date, level of education, or even who his patrons were. Surprisingly little is known about the influential artist. The origins of Hieronymus Bosch remain a mystery. Learn 17 facts about Hieronymus Bosch's painting The Garden of Earthly Delights. What is it about Bosch and The Garden of Earthly Delights that continues to capture the public's imagination? Let's take a look at this famous painting and dissect the madness that has captivated and confounded historians. Many painters copied his style, with the most famous being Pieter Bruegel. Though we can't be certain, it's believed that these family members would have passed the craft down to Bosch.Īnd while his fantastical, macabre paintings may seem morbid today, they were an immediate success even during his lifetime. Hieronymus is a derivative of his birthplace, ‘s-Hertogenbosch or “Den Bosch,” which translates to “the forest.” Bosch came from a family of painters, including his grandfather, father, and uncles-all of whom are recorded as working in the area. What little we do know about Bosch, who left behind no written records or diaries, comes from his first name. Bosch is known as a master of Early Netherlandish Renaissance art, with much of his work tinged with macabre overtones.ĭespite being a highly individualistic Renaissance artist, there are only 25 surviving works that historians attribute to the master. In the information age, it's shocking how much is still open to interpretation when it comes to The Garden of Earthly Delights.
