The Garden of Earthly Delights
Hieronymus Bosch
1490-1510
Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
This is going to be a very brief overview of this work - this triptych has been poured over for literally hundreds of years, and the writings on it are voluminous. The wiki (although not always a trustworthy site when it comes to art) has a really in-depth overview of the piece. I just wanted some Bosch represented on this Tumblr :)
The top image is titled The Creation of the World, and is painted on the outside doors of the triptych so the image is seen when it is closed. It shows the Earth on its third day of creation. The left wing is titled The Earthly Paradise (Garden of Eden). The Lord stands in the middle, and to his left (of course) stands Eve as he presents her to a waking Adam on his right. The center panel, The Garden of Earthly Delights, is a mix of terrestrial earth and a fantastical realm, with humans and mythical creatures partaking in sinful activities, most apparent those involving lust and sexuality. The right wing, Hell, shows the fates of those from the second panel, having succumbed to sin and now facing their punishment and damnation.
This most likely was used as an altarpiece in a private home of a noble family.
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