The Last Judgement by Hieronymus Bosch

 

https://www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/hieronymus-bosch/the-last-judgement/

The Last Judgement by Hieronymus Bosch 

    The Last Judgement was a Northern Renaissance oil painting by Hieronymus Bosch in 1482 (“The Last Judgement”). The painting was completed on three panels that depict different scenes from The Last Judgement as described by religion. The left panel depicts an angelic and peaceful scene, whereas the right depicts what is commonly interpreted as hell; the middle panel shows Christ acting as the judge in the transition between heaven and hell.

 

    Hieronymus Bosch displays religion as the prominent focal point of his pieces; this represents his heavy religious influences and entails his connection to the period leading up to The Reformation

(Selvin). Bosch was also known to display heavy symbolism in his work which interestingly tied to humanism; the meaning of Bosch’s paintings are heavily disputed but art historians highlight that Bosch was often described as an artist of dreams and nightmares. He was even credited with the “invention of monsters,” given his often fantastical depictions of outlandish creatures in religious settings (Sesar). Humanism and the years leading up to The Reformation allowed his work to be seen/accepted in a way that would have otherwise been impossible.

     

     Hieronymus Bosch's use of heavy symbolism is complemented dramatically by his use of color to depict the type of symbolism it is. While the interpretations of Bosch's works are heavily contested, the figures and symbols themselves are depicted as "good" or "evil" based on their bright euphoric or heavy dark coloration. This aspect of Bosch's work is interesting, given that it defines good and evil yet leaves good and evil in ambiguous forms of symbolism. Some argue that Bosch's work is simply conveying religious ideology consistent with the time, while others say that the fantastical depictions are purposely outlandish in their depictions of religion (Sesar). 

    This particular painting interests me for several reasons; first and foremost, it is a disputed piece. The original painting was done in a workshop, and it is unclear whether Hieronymus Bosch actually painted the piece or if it was done in conjunction with the workshop. I find that aspect of the piece particularly noteworthy because the context of having workshops in which pieces like this are being displayed/taught highlights the historical interest in the type of art and subject matter.

 

    The societal and cultural interest adds a deeper layer of historical meaning to this piece; the subject of religion and the use of art to instill fear is a positive feedback loop. The more a piece of art instills fear, the more cultural and societal interest it generates. The more cultural and societal interest the art generates, the more society and culture create pieces that instill fear. This positive feedback loop is highlighted by the existence of workshops depicting religious scenes of fear, such as this piece, and helps to explain how religion and interpretations of religion become extremely widespread and deeply held as a belief system of fear. This positive feedback loop is one of many in this era of  history, and the lessening role of a central church allowed these positive feedback loops to run free and create vastly different interpretations of religion (including the lack thereof) based on what captured attention and imagination the best. Bosch’s intense use of symbolism, dreams, and fears embodied this gripping aspect of art which allowed ideological interpretations of religion to explode during the Renaissance.

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

“The Last Judgement.” Obelisk Art History, www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/hieronymus-bosch/the-last-judgement.

Selvin, Claire. “ARTnews.com.” ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2020, www.artnews.com/feature/hieronymus-bosch-life-early-works-best-paintings-1202685134.

Sesar, Dora. “Mind Blowing Details of 3 Hieronymus Bosch’s Paintings.” TheCollector, 15 Aug. 2023, www.thecollector.com/incredible-details-from-hieronymous-bosch-paintings.