The Meaning of The Triptych Bosch’s The Garden Of Earthly Delights

In his work, Bosch talks about “The Garden of Earthly Delights”

In his work, Bosch talks about “The Garden of Earthly Delights” which means the contemporary title offered to a triptych oil painting on the oak panel that is painted by the Earthly Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch and located in the Museo del Prado in Madrid from 1939 (Dixon, 96).

Interpreting Bosch’s Work

Given that very little is known about Bosch, interpreting his work would only be possible through reliance on the conjecture. Many scholars have managed to study the enigmatic scenes that are portrayed on the interior side of triptych’s panel (Beagle, 1). Bosch’s painting is identified to integrate attitudes of sermons and medieval didactic literature. Bosch’s work has fascinated the society for many centuries. Irrespective of the fact that the bizarre painting was painted 500 years ago, its structure and look seem to have been painted recently, although its date is based on estimation (Dixon, 97).

The Dating of Bosch’s Work

Based on the written record about Bosch’s writings, this particular work is dated based on the consideration of the age of the panel and his life. Therefore, the work must have been painted after Columbus journey to America. In his work, Bosch intended to communicate about how the town palace was structured with the House of Nassau in Brussels (Beagle, 2). He also shows the look of the prominent place based on the visits paid by the heads of state and court figures in that area. This makes it clear that Bosch’s work was highly valued (Beagle, 3). The work tends to function like a Renaissance home theater for the wealthy patrons.

The Symbolism in Bosch’s Piece

Bosch’s piece focused on interconnecting people, as viewed from the left to right side of the panel. Also, the outer panel indicates God’s introduction of Eve to Adam while the right panel represents the torment of damnation (Dixon, 97). The figures in the center panel show that when the man was in the garden, he was innocent, naïve, and peaceful with nature, but after sinning, things changed and death came in.

Man’s Creation and God’s Relationship

In general, the triptych seems to have been intended to communicate to believers about the creation of the earth and God’s relationship with his people and other creatures. It is evident in the garden that the universe is full of temptations. From the left side to the right one, it is possible to identify the process of man’s creation, life, and his failure because of bad behavior (Dixon, 98). The scripture next to the tiny figure of God wearing a Papal tiara on the upper left corner is supported by the reading from Psalm 33:9, “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” This represents the third day of God’s creation after plant, and other vegetation were created and before man’s creation (Beagle, 3). It is possible to realize that the earth was flooded based on the nature of water in the display. The issue of including, man, animals and other things in the piece indicate that man was created to interact with other creatures and use his God-given knowledge to make the earth developed. Indeed, “The Garden of Earthly Delights” is significantly celebrated because of its reminder about how the earth was formed, the creation of man, and God’s warning for man against lousy behavior (Dixon, 98). According to this piece, man is fond of worldly pleasure since the creation of Eve, who sinned and caused the sin to spread to all generations. There is punishment for man’s sinful behavior, whereby man is intended to go to hell.

Work Cited

Beagle, Peter S., and Hieronymus Bosch. The garden of earthly delights. Secker & Warburg, 1982.

Dixon, Laurinda S. “Bosch’s Garden of Delights Triptych: Remnants of a ”Fossil” Science.“ The Art Bulletin 63.1 (1981): 96-113.