Hieronymus Bosch is one of the most mysterious artists in history. Many interpretations have gathered around his works, mostly with an emphasis on the frenzy of his imagination and mysticism. What do we know about the life of this strange and extremely talented artist - no conjectures, probably? How did his works appear to his contemporaries? What hints about the events of that time did he leave in the pictures? How did he combine demonism with moralism? All this and other mysteries of Bosch's creative imagination are discussed in a fact-checked and easy-to-read text by Nils Büttner.
In this book, the German historian analyzes historical evidence about the work of Hieronymus Bosch, one of the most famous Dutch artists. Bosch's life and work are shrouded in mystery.
Some try to explain his whimsical visions with the help of alchemical symbolism, others consider them coded texts of a secret cult, and they even try to decipher them with the help of psychoanalysis. Examining Bosch's life against the background of contemporary Dutch culture and society, the author has created one of the most convincing and detailed biographical essays on the great master.
