The beer

The Garden of Earthly Delights

The most famous of Bosch's pieces, The Garden of Earthly Delights is generally placed late in his career, well after 1500, and exhibits many of the same themes found in his earlier works, most notably that humankind is given over to sin. In the left panel we see the now familiar paradise story set in a more fantastical setting than had been the case up until this point. The center panel presents an entirely unique view of earth, one which contains many of the same themes which Bosch has developed in other pieces, but here they are presented in an entirely new way. Finally, in the right panel Bosch presents us with a mature depiction of Hell.While the triptych format is traditional for Netherlandish alterpieces the subjects and presentation of this piece makes it likely that it was never intended to be placed in a church but was instead prepared for lay patrons. Indeed there is good evidence that The Garden of Earthly Delights was owned by Hendrick III of Nassau.

The Garden of Earthly DelightsOil on Panel86 5/8 X 191 5/8(220 X 389) Prado, Madrid