Hieronymus Bosch - Christ Mocked (The Crowning with Thorns) [c.1490-1500]

Hieronymus Bosch - Christ Mocked (The Crowning with Thorns) [c.1490-1500], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Four torturers surround Christ, pressing towards him, while he looks out at us. Bosch's picture emphasises the contrast between the brutality of the tormentors and the mild, suffering Christ. Its emotional intensity is achieved in a variety of ways. The half-length figures create a sense of proximity, and the lack of recession in the painting makes it appear very claustrophobic. From the centre of the picture Christ seems to appeal to us to share in his suffering. 

The characterisations here are not just grotesque, but reflect specific ideas. Christ's torturers were often referred to as savage beasts, which may explain why the man at the top right appears to wear a spiked dog collar. The figure at the lower left has a crescent moon of Islam and yellow star of the Jews on his head-dress, which mark him as an opponent of Christianity.

[Oil on oak, 73.5 x 59.1 cm]

Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights [c.1480-1504]

Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights [c.1480-1504], originally uploaded by Gandalf's Gallery.

The Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych painted by the early Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch (c.1450–1516), housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid since 1939. The triptych is painted in oil and comprises a square middle panel flanked by two rectangular wings that can close over the centre as shutters. These outer wings, when folded shut, display a grisaille painting of the earth during the Creation. The three scenes of the inner triptych are probably (but not necessarily) intended to be read chronologically from left to right. The left panel depicts God presenting Adam and Eve, while the central panel is a broad panorama of sexually engaged nude figures, fantastical animals, oversized fruit and hybrid stone formations. The right panel is a hell-scape and portrays the torments of damnation.

[Oil on wood, 220 cm x 389 cm]