HIĖRONYMUS BOSCH (+1516)
THE TEMPATION OF SAINT ANTHONY Saint Anthony won a lot of praise in Hiėronymus Bosch's heyday. He resisted diabolical temptations, in sharp contrast with the ordinary mortals, as this triptych portrays in splendid colours. The closed panels show the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus.


JB05                                 h. 7,0 cm

FISH WITH MAST This armoured fish moves in the water like a boat in front of the main scene: the celebration of “black mass”. In the Tempation of Saint Anthony, fish appear in all shapes and sizes. This one still swims, but his fellow sort can be found on dry land or even in the air. Up there they serve as cold-blooded means of conveyance for, what could be witches. Now we would suspect a broomstick here.
JB06                       h. 11,5 cm

JBG06                            h. 36,0 cm

BIRD WITH LETTER  The inscription on this note in the beak of this birdlike monster on skates could throw a light on the contemplated symbolism. Unfortunately, this text, which is difficult to read, is open to various interpretations, but none of them are proven to be accurate. The postman-like freak is perhaps delivering a letter to the conspiring figures in the hole under the bridge. The funnel on this curious bird’s head gives him a preposterous appearance. This headwear is referred to elsewhere as wisdom or absent-mindedness, but that symbolism seems unsuitable here.


JB12                                                                                             h. 9,5 cm
MONSTER PLAYING THE HARP  This creature with its monstrous skull is riding on a peculiarly plucked goose-like creature. He is playing his harp, here as a symbol for one of the many temptations to which mankind is exposed and which Saint Anthony so bravely resisted. Even in those days, making music could apparently lead to lecherous behaviour.



JB03                               h. 11,5 cm

FISH WITH TOWER On the left panel one can find this peculiar fish with architectural features that is prepared to eat its fellow sort. It is a diabolical creature with its red, armoured second skin on which the turret is displayed. He is situated right in front of the brothel, one of the temptations that Antonius resisted gloriously.


JB09                               h. 12,0 cm

MONSTER  On the left of the middle panel, a curious procession of demonic creatures files past us. Here, Hiėronymus Bosch exposes the administration of justice of his time. The severed leg of an executed person dangles from the wheel. A perforated swine refers to the strange custom of also judging sinful animals. This typically mediaeval fantasy creature can be found in the foreground.
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