What do you think?
Rate this book
Hieronymus Bosch
Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1453-1516) was one of those rare artists who introduce a new vision to the history of his medium. His phantasmagoric images of Heaven and Hell were conjured out of the visions and myths that swirled and howled in the minds of many Christians poised between the Middle Ages and the Reformation in Northern Europe. These same images seem to have a special relevance to our own century, which has elevated the painter to that pantheon of heroes who faced unflinchingly the human condition. For not only do Bosch's tormented demons prefigure the discovery of the unconscious with its demonic forces, but his portrayal of the destructive power of machines proved a prophesy of our own dilemmas. As a painter who broke down and stepped outside of the established boundaries of his art, he is one of a handful of precursors of the art of our time, with its emphasis on originality of expression.
The descendant of generations of painters who lived far from the centers of art and culture in a small Netherlandish town, where he too painted and died, Bosch displayed a talent that was neither provincial nor naive. His vision was serious, vast in scope and sure of itself, and never without its tinge of mocking and irony. His ghastly fancies were characteristic of the age, visible evidence of the fear of witchcraft and devilry that obsessed his contemporaries. While the subjects he chose to paint were unusual, his grasp of their sources in scripture, mystical texts, and homiletic literature reveal an intellect of uncommon power. A lone wolf and curious personality, it was inevitable that he would be an innovator.
Bosch is most famous for his great alterpieces: The Hay Wain, The Temptations of Saint Anthony, and The Garden of Delights in Madrid; The Temptations of Saint Anthony in Lisbon; and The Last Judgment in Vienna. Of the 40 colorplates in this book, 34 are details that bring the reader directly into the vast paintings with their myriad of tiny figures. Distinguished German art critic and author Carl Linfert explains the enigmatic images, providing a key to understanding Bosch's astonishing works.
The descendant of generations of painters who lived far from the centers of art and culture in a small Netherlandish town, where he too painted and died, Bosch displayed a talent that was neither provincial nor naive. His vision was serious, vast in scope and sure of itself, and never without its tinge of mocking and irony. His ghastly fancies were characteristic of the age, visible evidence of the fear of witchcraft and devilry that obsessed his contemporaries. While the subjects he chose to paint were unusual, his grasp of their sources in scripture, mystical texts, and homiletic literature reveal an intellect of uncommon power. A lone wolf and curious personality, it was inevitable that he would be an innovator.
Bosch is most famous for his great alterpieces: The Hay Wain, The Temptations of Saint Anthony, and The Garden of Delights in Madrid; The Temptations of Saint Anthony in Lisbon; and The Last Judgment in Vienna. Of the 40 colorplates in this book, 34 are details that bring the reader directly into the vast paintings with their myriad of tiny figures. Distinguished German art critic and author Carl Linfert explains the enigmatic images, providing a key to understanding Bosch's astonishing works.
- GenresArtReferenceNonfiction
2 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 1, 2022
Hieronymus Bosch. Just the name calls up dreamscapes and nightmares at the edge of imagining. His blending of worlds — the natural world, the demonic, and the sacred — created the most fascinating, bizarre, and mind bending body of work in the history of European art.
From the first time I saw a Bosch print I was enchanted by his powerful vision. I picked this book up about thirty years ago, and have spent untold hours lost in examining the strange and wonderful work within. Getting lost in Bosch is comparable to a psychedelic experience.
The book’s first section intermingles text with black and white sketches and painting details. Honestly, I’ve nothing to say about the text — I’m always too entranced by the art to pay it much heed. From there, it moves into standard art book format — on the right, a full page painting, and on the left text about it. Because so many of Bosch’s works were large and intricately detailed, often several pages will be devoted to one work, each page focused on a single section. All Bosch’s most mesmerizing works are here — The Last Judgement, The Garden Of Delights, The Temptations of Saint Anthony, The Ship of Fools, Death and the Miser, and so many more.
The physical book itself is of the highest quality. I’ve been pouring through its pages for three decades and it’s still like new. Even its dust jacket still seems store quality.
Anyway, grab this one up if you can. Let Bosch change the shape of your dreams and nightmares.
From the first time I saw a Bosch print I was enchanted by his powerful vision. I picked this book up about thirty years ago, and have spent untold hours lost in examining the strange and wonderful work within. Getting lost in Bosch is comparable to a psychedelic experience.
The book’s first section intermingles text with black and white sketches and painting details. Honestly, I’ve nothing to say about the text — I’m always too entranced by the art to pay it much heed. From there, it moves into standard art book format — on the right, a full page painting, and on the left text about it. Because so many of Bosch’s works were large and intricately detailed, often several pages will be devoted to one work, each page focused on a single section. All Bosch’s most mesmerizing works are here — The Last Judgement, The Garden Of Delights, The Temptations of Saint Anthony, The Ship of Fools, Death and the Miser, and so many more.
The physical book itself is of the highest quality. I’ve been pouring through its pages for three decades and it’s still like new. Even its dust jacket still seems store quality.
Anyway, grab this one up if you can. Let Bosch change the shape of your dreams and nightmares.
January 26, 2008
As someone whose equally drawn to the sacred and the profane (in other words a Catholic) Bosch is probably my favorite artist, or at least the one who speaks most directly to my fetishes, beliefs, ideals, and nightmares.
Linfert writes an interesting text to go along with the prints, striking just the right tone full of information and theory but not dryly academic. Highly recommended.
Linfert writes an interesting text to go along with the prints, striking just the right tone full of information and theory but not dryly academic. Highly recommended.
September 15, 2016
A very detailed, well researched, outstanding production that collects nearly every great to good Bosch painting we're lucky to have.
June 4, 2020
Excellent book on Bosch! I enjoyed the essay at the beginning. Bosch's stuff is so detailed, it's hard to see everything on the reproductions of the whole paintings, so I really appreciated the many "close-up" plates they provided.
January 25, 2008
great plates, very comprehensive
November 29, 2010
I used this more as a reference guide rather than as a book that I read from page to page.
March 8, 2015
4-5 stars for the art, 2 stars for the text and the way the book is arranged.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews