3 facts about Hieronymus Bosch

Hieronymus Bosch (,Dutch: [ɦijeːˈroːnimʏz ˈbɔs] (listen); born Jheronimus van Aken[jeːˈroːnimʏs fɑn ˈaːkə(n)];c. 1450 – 9 August 1516) was a Dutch/Netherlandish painter from Brabant. He is one of the most notable representatives of the Early Netherlandish painting school. His work, generally oil on oak wood, mainly contains fabulous illustrations of religious concepts and narratives. Within his lifetime his acquit yourself was collected in the Netherlands, Austria, and Spain, and widely copied, especially his macabre and nightmarish depictions of hell.

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 (which is visible in his surname: Van Aken). His exaggerated fantastical style cast a broad influence on northern art of the 16th century, with Pieter Bruegel the Elder inborn his best-known follower. Today, Bosch is seen as a hugely individualistic painter considering deep perception into humanity’s desires and deepest fears. Attribution has been especially difficult; today only not quite 25 paintings are confidently final to his hand along in the song of eight drawings. About another half dozen paintings are confidently endorsed to his workshop. His most venerated works consist of a few triptych altarpieces, including The Garden of Earthly Delights.