The Garden of Earthly Delights is one of the most idiosyncratic paintings of the 16th-century Netherlandish Renaissance. Depicting figures and creatures that range from outlandish to peculiar to somber, Renaissance and modern audiences have come to interpret the piece in countless ways. These interpretations have fueled the popularity of the piece, which the city of Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands took to a new level as part of the Garden of Earthly Delight Sculpture Series, allowing audiences to experience the painting and the legacy that it represents on a whole new level.
Experiencing the “Creator of Devils”
Hieronymus Bosch was a 16th-century Dutch painter whose incredibly influential and distinctive work earned him the nickname “de duvelmakere,” which translates as “creator of devils” on account of his often his chilling and frightening depictions of hell. His work would influence many different individuals and entire art movements like surrealism. He spent most of his life in Hertogenbosch, which honored him with the installation of a statue that defines the Jeroen Boschplein.
In 2016, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of his death, a series of sculptures that are based on figures from his most famous work, The Garden of Earthly Delights, were placed in prominent locations across Hertogenbosch. A permanent overview of the exhibition is available at the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center, which resides in the Jeroen Boschplein.
Each sculpture is from a section of the painting that has paradise on the left, hell on the right and a garden of worldly pleasure in between. Located all across the city, part of the experience with each piece is to find them and then interpret the figure in the context of the real world along with the original setting of the painting. This experience highlights what it can mean to cultivate further connection for audiences with the legacy and culture that majorly impacts an entire region.
Bringing a Legacy to Life
Famous works of art have become synonymous with cities and nations of all sizes, but none can be experienced like The Garden of Earthly Delights in Hertogenbosch. By bringing to life the legacy of a piece of art that has become synonymous with the area, the Garden of Earthly Delight Sculpture Series highlights what it means to cultivate connection across audiences, cultures, eras and forms.
