Hieronymus Bosch was one of the most influential painters of the fifteenth century, whose works are famous even after five centuries after his death. The artist spent his career in the town of Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. Bosch’s famous painting, Garden of Earthly Delights, is one of the most oracular pictures, which captivated and puzzled the audience since the inception of the picture. Garden of Earthly Delights is a large triptych and a conversational piece, never intended for religious setting. The picture belongs to the period of 1500-02 and conveys various meanings from the literal level to the allegorical level. On the other hand, the Haywain is another major triptych, which portrays the theme of sin and punishment, which was the …show more content…
However, the central theme evident in both the pictures is the notion of sin and punishment. The pictures depict the spiritual predicament of mankind and mankind given over to sin, which is completely oblivious to God’s law and the fate he has prepared for mankind. Lust is evident in both the pictures through the appearance of figures engaged in amative acts. Distinction between various classes of people is also evident in both the pictures. Bosch represents the hellish counterpart of the heavenly mansions in both the pictures, dominating the foreground with new motifs. Although the basic meaning of both the pictures is simple, the artist comments on an unpleasant aspect of human nature. Bosch has incorporated traditional iconography in both the scenes through dominating background images. Hell is a nightmarish place in both the triptychs. The Haywain and The Garden of Earthly Delights narrate two distinct stories in terms of their central panels. While The Haywain offers a pessimistic perspective of life through the pilgrim journeying through hardship, The Garden of Earthly Delights ends dreadfully. The representations of The Haywain are meaningful and profound, while the representations of The Garden of Earthly Delights are puzzling and diverse. Furthermore, The Haywain portrays the downfall of man due to various sins, while The Garden of Earthly Delights comments on the sinfulness of humanity, which is persistent even in the present time. Both the scenes unquestionably belong to the Middle