Hieronymus Bosch

Lore & Background

Little is known of Bosch's life, though there are some records. He spent most of it in the town of 's-Hertogenbosch, where he was born in his grandfather's house. The roots of his forefathers are in Nijmegen and Aachen. His first name was originally Jheronimus, and he signed a number of his paintings as Jheronimus Bosch. The surname Bosch derives from his birthplace, 's-Hertogenbosch. He left behind no letters or diaries, and known references to him have been taken from brief mentions in municipal records and the account books of the Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady. His date of birth is estimated at c. 1450 based on a hand-drawn portrait made shortly before his death in 1516, showing the artist at an advanced age, probably in his late sixties.

Bosch lived all his life in and near 's-Hertogenbosch. His grandfather Jan van Aken was a painter, and four of Jan's five sons were also painters. Bosch's father, Anthonius van Aken, acted as artistic adviser to the Brotherhood. It is generally assumed that either his father or one of his uncles taught him to paint, but none of their works survive. In 1463, a catastrophic fire destroyed 4,000 houses in the town, which the approximately thirteen-year-old Bosch presumably witnessed. He became a popular painter in his lifetime and often received commissions from abroad. In 1486/7, he joined the Brotherhood of Our Lady. Sometime between 1479 and 1481, he married Aleid Goyaerts van den Meervenne, and the couple moved to Oirschot. An entry in the accounts of the Brotherhood records his death in 1516, with a memorial funeral mass held on 9 August.

Bosch produced at least sixteen triptychs, of which eight survive fully intact and five in fragments. His works are generally organized into three periods: early (c. 1470–1485), middle (c. 1485–1500), and late (c. 1500 until his death). He did not date his paintings but signed several. About twenty-five paintings remain today that can be attributed to him. His palette was limited, using azurite, green copper-based glazes, malachite, verdigris, lead-tin-yellow, ochres, and red lake. He sometimes painted in a sketchy, impasto manner, contrasting with the smooth surfaces of traditional Early Netherlandish painting.

Reader's Guide

Hieronymus Bosch is significant as a highly individualistic artist whose original, fantastical style cast a wide influence on northern art of the 16th century, with Pieter Bruegel the Elder as his best-known follower. His work offers profound insights into humanity's desires and deepest fears, though little is known of his personality or thoughts on his art. Attribution of his work has been especially difficult; today only about 25 paintings are confidently identified as his, along with eight drawings, with about another half-dozen confidently attributed to his workshop. His most acclaimed works consist of three triptych altarpieces, particularly The Garden of Earthly Delights (c. 1495–1505), whose outer panels bracket the main central panel between the Garden of Eden and the Last Judgment. In the late 16th century, Philip II of Spain acquired many of Bosch's paintings, so the Prado Museum in Madrid now owns several, including The Garden of Earthly Delights. In the 20th century, it was sometimes argued that his art was inspired by heretical points of view or obscure hermetic practices, but such interpretations remain speculative. His legacy endures through his unique visual language of religious fantasy and nightmare.

Did You Know?

• Bosch's surname derives from his birthplace, 's-Hertogenbosch, commonly called 'Den Bosch'.
• He joined the Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady in 1486/7, a confraternity of influential citizens.
• Only about 25 paintings are confidently identified as his, along with eight drawings.
• The Prado Museum in Madrid owns several of his works, including The Garden of Earthly Delights.