The Garden of Earthly Delights, created between 1490-1510, oil on wood.
Click for larger view.
One of the strangest paintings found in the study of art history is The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. This piece is a triptych, and from a first glance, it looks like a typical biblical painting of Adam and Eve, sin and hell. However, from closer inspection it is obvious that the painting is far more detailed and strays intensely from the normal biblical accounts. There are strange sculptures, odd hybrid creatures, nude people engaging in sexual activity, giant fruit and fantastical monsters torturing people. While this triptych has been interpreted as a warning of temptation on earth, it remains a wild fantasy enjoyable through Bosch’s imagination.
Great description of the content of the piece, but I was hoping to hear more about what you think of it. How does it make you feel, hmmm?
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