The Garden of Earthly Delights
The Garden of Earthly Delights.(c. 1503–1515)
Jheronimus van Aken “El Bosco”, (1450-1516) Size: 220 cm x 389 cm / 86.6 inch x 153.1 inch. Triptych. Museo Nacional del Prado. Madrid. Spain.
Triptych on wooden panels of the Flemish school, belonging to one of the most original artists and at the same time "conservative" in his Christian-catholic thoughts. We should not confuse its originality, its style, with its possible and arguably "modernizing" claim, due to the fact that it has not been the case. We can affirm that it is a painting full of symbolism, transcendence, and message, that is to say, an "intellectual abstraction" that offers full information of Christian faith, a continuous testamentary message in which it is transferred a vital teaching: "the path of sin leads to hell."
Having said the above, we should point out the profound Christian faith, even orthodox, of El Bosco, which takes his works to metaphysical parameters never seen before. Recently and to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of this outstanding painter, we have had the privilege of contemplating this top work of Nordic Art in a great exhibition that took place at the National Museum of the Prado of Madrid. An exhibition awarded with the "Global Fine Art," being The Garden Of the Delights the main work on display. The painting was acquired in 1593 by the king of Spain Felipe II with the purpose of being treasured in the Escorial Palace. In virtue of the foregoing and thanks to Felipe II, Spain brings together the greatest number of original works of El Bosco.
Artistically speaking, the three wooden panels are a contemplative and reflective message about human behaviour in the world. Moreover, the central panel is essential when it comes to this masterpiece. In addition to that, El Bosco represents in it the lust, which is the sin that envelops all other capital sins and it's the road that leads to corruption. Life is a fragile crystal, woman a sinful symbol, red fruits irrational passion, birds the volatility of human morality ... All of this reflected in the unique character that looks at the viewer, Adam, who in the bottom right of the central panel points to Eve as guilty of man's doom.
On the other hand, the left table represents Paradise. God gives the vital spirit to the woman, Eve, nonetheless the sin is represented, through the tree of sin and the standing water. The panel on our right side implies the end, the punishment of hell. Lastly, it is relevant to note that throughout his entire career El Bosco has made a fierce critique of human becoming and the institutions represented on earth, including the church itself, symbolised by a pig with a nun's headdress.