With a life that spanned from 1450 to 1516, Bosch experienced the drama of the highly charged Renaissance and its wars of religion. Medieval tradition and values were crumbling,paving the way to thrust man into a new universe where faith lost some of its power and much of its magic. Bosch set out to warn doubters of the perils awaiting all and any who lost their faith in God. His favorite allegories were hell, heaven and lust.

Hieronymus Bosch was painting frightening, yet vaguely likable monsters long before computer games were ever invented, often with a touch of humour. His works are assertive statements about the mental illness that befalls any man who abandons the teachings of Christ.With a life that spanned from 1450 to 1516, Bosch experienced the drama of the highly charged Renaissance and its wars of religion. Medieval tradition and values were crumbling,paving the way to thrust man into a new universe where faith lost some of its power and much of its magic. Bosch set out to warn doubters of the perils awaiting all and any who lost their faith in God. His favorite allegories were hell, heaven and lust. He believed that everyone had to choose between one of two options: heaven or hell. Bosch brilliantly exploited the symbolism of a wide range of fruits and plants to lend sexual overtones to his themes, which author Virginia Pitts Rembert meticulously deciphers to provide readers with new insights into this fascinating artist and his works.

Preface

Introduction

Chapter I The Literature on Bosch to Wilhelm Franger

Chapter II Franger"s Thesis (Epiphanies and Absurdities)

Chapter III Franger and Beyond

Chapter IV A More Prosaic View

Chapter V Saint Antony, the Devil, and other sources from Bosch"s World

Chapter VI The Lisbon triptych

Conclusion

Endnotes

Bibliography

Index of illustrations