Caseiokey

Caseiokey

@caseiokey.bsky.social

For your questions on riddles of #HieronymusBosch #latemedieval #earlyrenaissance #art #symbolism . Images can be enhanced for visibility. DAILY SERVICE NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE

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The resolution is as high as the original, the file is a bit smaller! I see no real difference in the picture quality with the original.

For those interested in seeing an authentic Hieronymus Bosch: go for his drawings! Rather recently discovered is INFERNAL LANDSCAPE (25.9x19.7cm Private Collection, n/a). With well-known elements as the human clappers, and new inventions like a dragon vomiting human bodies or a helmeted bird skull…

I am glad that on Lucas van Leyden‘s Last Judgment (1526, at the Lakenhal museum, Leiden) at least some demons CHECK the lists before burning poor souls. (Own photo). On the Bosch’ Afterlife (inset, ~1500), a different demon is just absorbed READING a book… but which? At the Prado museum, Madrid.

To enhance a mysterious atmosphere, painter Bosch added magic, witchcraft & divination elements to his works, including: birth defects hybrids toads horse skulls a Ray fish mummy herbs eggs flying people palm reading astrology dreaming dice throwing bird flight secret languages.

MAN ON LIFE’S PILGRIMAGE The staff symbolizes the faith that ‘offers humanity a foothold so as not to stray from the right path’ and serves as weapon against evil. Man must follow his path and carry his burden, just as Christ drags His sorrowful burden… <After Dr.Koldeweij 2001

1. ODYSSEUS AND THE CYCLOPS 2. ODYSSEUS ON ITHACA WITH PENELOPE’S SUITORS Alabaster cinerary urns, Volterra. From underground family tombs. The lid shows the body of the deceased, emphasizing facial features, at a banquet. Now at the Rijksmuseum voor Oudheden, Leiden. Own photos, 12 July 2026.

WHY IS A ROOSTER one of the Arma Christi, Passion items? The trifold COCK-CROW indicated Peter’s Denial of Christ after his arrest, as described by all apostles. Master Gerard van Honthorst made it part of a bar genre painting in which soldiers were playing cards… Which gave him room for 2 candles!

The painting of ~1616-17 is now at the exhibition “Gerard van Honthorst - Different to Rembrandt” in the Centraal Museum Utrecht, until 13/Sep./2026. (Own photo) The work is regularly at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes (Fr.).

TOP RIGHT, Hieronymus Bosch’ Calvary with Donor (~1490-1500) has the donor with striking STRIPED PANTS. They are not fantasy- similar pants can be found at other contemporary paintings, all at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (1500; 1520). The Bosch is at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium/Brussels

Last week I visited Den Bosch and Amsterdam. Lots of new Bosch and late medieval material. 1,2 Market square and St.John cathedral, Den Bosch 3 Jheronimus Bosch Art Center, Den Bosch 4,5 Bosch experience and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. See ALTs

@boschbot.bsky.social The images of a person with his hat in the hand or nearby, are painter Bosch’s wordplay in Dutch with <hoed> = hat, and <op zijn hoede> = on his guard. Ancient Netherlandish expression: Good guard chases away accident. 1549. Source: Harrebomée vol.1 p.309.

THE TEMPTATION OF ST.ANTHONY can be found also at the Prado, in a quite different version. The museum attributes it to Bosch 1510-15, on several characteristics. The Bosch Conservation and Research Project was not yet given permission to document or examine the painting in situ.

Caseiokey reposted

Replying to @boschbot.bsky.social

THE GENERAL MEANING of Bosch’s work The Temptation of St.Anthony of 1500 is simple. Acc. to pop.legends, Satan was envious of the recluse. He tried to break him in various ways. Like apparitions in the air, including war scenes. Often the ways of Satan are specifically directed at Anthony’s person.

There’s no doubt in my mind that this is St.Peter in a red robe at the Gate leading to Heaven. It’s one of the arguments that this wing of Bosch’ Garden triptych should NOT be named “Hell” but rather <Afterlife> or <Hereafter>, in my opinion! 2nd collage: Compare Memling detail; and a fresco

Replying to @caseiokey.bsky.social

Bosch’s ‘Parade around the Pond’ detail of ca.1500AD, with the young men’s ecstatic postures, has been associated with the “Morris dance”. The dance was included in the Ghent Metselaarshuis’ building contract of 1526. On the pinnacles various figures depict the ritual dance; inset illustration.

THIS HOLY WEEK/5 On Friday, acc. to Christian tradition, after his condemnation by Pontius Pilate, Jesus was led along the Via Dolorosa to the place of execution Golgotha. Here on works by Hieronymus Bosch ~1500. L: Christ Carrying the Cross (Escorial, Madrid) R: Christ Carrying the Cross (KHM,Wien)

THIS HOLY WEEK/6 Final Passion of Jesus on Holy Friday. At RIGHT Bosch’s only CRUCIFIXION. With saints and donor, late 15c, @ MSK Brussel. It has some similarity with a fresco perhaps made by Bosch’s family ca.1453-4, @ St.John’s Cathedral in Den Bosch (At L, photo via Stefan Fischer 2013/2021).

THIS HOLY WEEK/7 ended late Friday with Christ’s body being buried (drawing). At TOP RIGHT we see the demise of Judas. At LEFT opposite is the <good robber> who can look forward for a better life after death! Jesus said to him “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

NOT OFTEN SEEN is Bosch Studio’s right wing of Last Judgment/Wien ~1500. People find such panels overwhelming by the many details. The trick is: pick a scene & name what is there. See image at right. On a giant helmet sits a woman/demon(?) Her owl means stupidity & evil. A lizard is cooking a soul-

NOT OFTEN SEEN are images that @boschbot cannot post because there are no suitable high-res files available. For instance from the right panel of the Last Judgement/Vienna ~1500. And that panel has much intriguing imagery, like this poor soul, surrounded by 5 sharp-beaked birds!

ANIMAL TROTTER (Bosch’s Anthony work) is part of metaphors linking wine & food (Gluttony) to licentious merrymaking & love-making (Lust: luring Devil-Queen). On Bosch’ depictions such tables looks scarce but it’s just the idea of a banquet. Depending on its thickness a trotter could hint at poverty.

MONSTERS IN THE DARK On the outside panel of painter Bosch’s St.John on Patmos of ca.1500AD are some 30 more or less overpainted scenes. I selected some monsters, and enhanced and sometimes colored the images for you. The artwork is at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.