Life, Death and Judgement in the Art and Times of Hieronymus Bosch (d. 1516)

Explore the enigmatic art of Hieronymus Bosch through this comprehensive lecture that examines his seemingly surreal paintings within their proper historical and cultural context. Discover how Bosch's terrifying visions of sin, death, and the afterlife were deeply rooted in the religious attitudes and moralizing texts of the late medieval period, including the Ars moriendi, the Dance of Death, and morality plays like Everyman. Analyze major works including the Epiphany Triptych, Haywain Triptych, and the Garden of Earthly Delights, learning to decode the hidden symbols of death and moral consequence embedded throughout Bosch's intricate details. Understand the artist's biographical context and the widespread fear of death and divine judgment that permeated society around 1500. Examine how Bosch depicted the Seven Deadly Sins in daily life, his imaginative visions of hell and punishment, and the symbolic journey of the everyman figure through life's moral challenges. Gain insight into why Bosch's work continues to divide opinion and whether his fantastical imagery served as moral warning or something else entirely, all presented by a leading specialist in Early Netherlandish art who contextualizes these masterpieces within the broader cultural and religious framework of their time.