The Garden of Earthly Delights
An Early Netherlandish painter known for his surreal, moralizing religious works filled with hybrid creatures, fantastical monsters, and detailed hellscapes.
In this film from the EXHIBITION ON SCREEN series, viewers can step into an exhibition that brought Hieronymus Bosch’s works back to his Dutch hometown from locations across the globe. “Hieronymus Bosch – Visions of a Genius” was the title of the largest retrospective Bosch exhibition, presented by the Het Noordbrabants Museum between February 13 and May 8, 2016. Thirty-six of the painter’s 44 surviving artworks were displayed in Den Bosch. This unique exhibition—featuring works on loan from the world’s finest museums—offered viewers the chance to examine the surviving pieces from a fresh perspective. The exhibition attracted over 420,000 visitors, with opening hours extending as early as 1:00 AM to meet the overwhelming demand.
Now, cinema audiences can view this extraordinary collection up close, away from the crowds. Expert commentary from the exhibition’s curators and leading critics allows us to gain a deeper understanding of Bosch and discover the inspirations behind his bizarre, demonic creations. Contributors include film director Peter Greenaway, Rachel Campbell-Johnston (Chief Art Critic for *The Times*), and Dr. Charles de Mooij (Director of the Het Noordbrabants Museum). The fascinating world of Hieronymus Bosch is brought to life through close-up camera angles, allowing viewers to see magnified details of the artist’s stunning paintings—such as the man-eating priest or the three-headed bird—that have never been visible before.
“When I speak with people who have seen Bosch’s works but aren’t art historians, they always highlight the tiny, anecdotal details … They remember specific elements vividly, like a human figure growing out of a strawberry. What is so fascinating about Bosch is how he lives on through these minute details in his paintings,” says historian Dr. Jennifer Sliwka. The film also brings to life Bosch’s famous altarpieces—works that audiences have previously only been able to view individually and which are currently housed in different museums. It also reveals secrets discovered by the project team using modern technology while preparing for the exhibition.
Update by Aggie Reiter
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