Jaarboek KMSKA 2017-2018

The structure of this publication
is different from previous years. This time we are not
presenting diverse scientific articles by researchers, but one single
topic linking up with the previous publications by Dr Paul
Vandenbroeck entitled A suspect paradise. Studies on the left panel
and detail symbolism of Hieronymus Bosch’s so-called Garden of Earthly
Delights.

This contribution is divided into two parts: “The Garden of Eden,
the ‘Work of Nature’ and marriage” and “Meaningful motifs on
the centre panel”. The first part focusses on the paradise wedding,
with the exotic and sinister and the animals and monstra in
the Garden of Eden, the symbolism of the paradise fountain and
the representation of the owl is unravelled. In the second part
attention is paid to the crescent of the moon, the sphere, plants,
animals, acrobats and flying people and the layered structure in
the representation. Vandenbroeck poses the question whether here
on the centre panel a paradise or a sinful situation is depicted. He
provides arguments for the at least partially negative significance
value of the symbolism, which renders it impossible to depict a
fully positive reality such as Paradise. His study results find their
way into this highly enthralling read.

Dr Paul Vandenbroeck has been fascinated by the oeuvre and symbolism of Hieronymus Bosch. Research around this painter and his art has remained a constant factor in Vandenbroeck’s career. Since 1980 he has been working at the KMSKA as scientific staff member and curator, and for a long time as editor of the Annual. Moreover, from 2003 he has been part-time senior lecturer at the Social Sciences Faculty of KU Leuven and in his academic career too the study of Bosch occupies a prominent place.