Book Description
Four hundred little people frolic au naturel with overgrown songbirds and raspberries; a pudgy blue demon serenades a fashionable young couple with a tune piped through his own elongated nose; a knife-wielding set of disembodied ears stalks the damned through hell. The phantasmagoric imagery of Hieronymus Bosch (d. 1516) has been the source of widespread interest ever since the painter's lifetime, and is still so enigmatic that scholars have theorized that it contains hidden astrological, alchemical, or even heretical meanings. Yet none of these theories has ever seemed to provide an adequate understanding of Bosch's work. Moreover, the considerable professional success that the artist enjoyed in his native s'Hertogenbosch, not to mention his membership in a traditional religious organization, suggests that he pursued not a sinister secret agenda but simply his personal artistic vision.

This intriguing new monograph by noted art historian Larry Silver interprets that artistic vision with admirable lucidity: it explains how Bosch's understanding of human sin, morality, and punishment, which was conceived in an era of powerful apocalyptic expectation, shaped his dramatic visualizations of hell and of the temptations of even the most steadfast saints. Silver's account of Bosch's artistic development is one of the first to benefit from recent technical investigations of the paintings, as well as from the reexamination of the artist's drawings in relation to his paintings. Hieronymus Bosch is also unique in how securely it places its subject's work in the broader history of painting in the Low Countries: Silver identifies sources of Bosch's iconography in a wide range of fifteenth-century panel paintings, manuscript illuminations, and prints, and describes how, despite their own religiousness, Bosch's pictures helped inspire the secular landscape and genre scenes of later Netherlandish painters. Augmented by 310 illustrations, most in color, including many dramatic close-ups of Bosch's intricately imagined nightmare scenes, this is the definitive book on a perennially fascinating artist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Hieronymus Bosch
I've always been fascinated by Hieronymus Bosch's work, but I've never been satisfied with reproductions. In this book there are amazing reproductions that aren't too small or too dark or too fuzzy. The close-ups of Bosch's works are great. They really let you see the minutiae - the brushwork, attention to detail and the sheer amount of activity going on in his paintings. Well worth the cost - if you buy on book about Bosch, it should be this one.

Revelations of Hieronymus Bosch
Hieronymus Bosch History of world's art knows a very few artists whose contribution can be compared to Hieronymus Bosch's
oeuvre-this enigmatic Flemish master has set bar extremely high,& only Pieter Bruegel The Elder & perhaps Francisco Goya were able to expose real truth about human nature with almost equal depth and conviction-and today apocalyptic and sarcastic paintings of Hieronymus Bosch are as modern as ever...
This particular book about Hieronymus Bosch is arguably one of the best amongst countless attempts to capture elusive magic of this old Flemish painter, and spectacular quality of art reproduction can take you as close to the original painting as you can possibly get, so there is very little left between mesmerizing Revelations of Hieronymus Bosch and reader of "Hieronymus Bosch" by Larry Silver.

Beautiful and scholarly
This is a beautiful art book. If you are a fan of Bosch you will relish the gorgeous color plates and the insightful window into this artist's life. Very well done! ... Read more

Book Description
To accompany a major exhibition at the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Amsterdam, 20 scholars and specialists on the 15th and 16th century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch have been invited to contribute essays to this publication. Intended to cater to both a general interest readership as well as to art historians and researchers, the book includes significant new scholarship on the artist. The emphasis here is on objective, fundamental research so that the book will be of lasting relevance in the future, retaining its value amid diverse and evolving perceptions of Bosch and his work. Hieronymus Bosch was unique in creating works of symbolic fantasy using rich forms and colors in a way that makes him the ancestor, 500 years earlier, to the Surrealist painters of the early 20th century. This volume will help make his work accessible to a wide range of readers, as well as considerably advancing the scholarship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The World Turned Right Again:Walter Gibson Explains Bosch
Art is a mystical and magical phenomenon.For that reason, few scholars of the art of the past can resist the temptation to cloud their work with terminal over-analysis and obfuscating jargon.Fortunately, Walter Gibson(like St. Anthony in the desert) does not succumb to these demons.With aclear eye, he reviews the work, thought and religious sentiment of one ofthe most mystical painters in human history; however, he never letsdaylight in upon magic.The reader finishes this delightful little tome onBosch with a better understanding of his work, but a profound respect forhis mystery.Gibson is erudite without being obfuscatory, respectfulwithout being unduly ingratiating.An excellent work by someone who trulyloves and understands art. ... Read more

Book Description
One of the most enigmatic painters who ever lived, Hieronymus Bosch (c.1453- 1516) is also one of the most enduringly popular. His fantastical scenes of grotesque creatures, devils, and monsters are open to many interpretations, keeping his art endlessly fascinating over the centuries.

This luxurious volume-published to coincide with a major exhibition in Bosch's native Netherlands-examines his art in the context of his times. With every Bosch painting and drawing superbly reproduced in full color, this beautiful book penetrates the mystery that has always surrounded the artist. His worldview, often seen as bizarre, is shown to correspond with that of his contemporaries, among them the scholar and humanist Erasmus. What makes Bosch unique, the authors show, are his unfettered imagination and immense talent.
250 illustrations, 190 in full color, 208 pages, 91/2 x 123/8" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Best Recent Introduction to Bosch
I have read most of the monographs on Bosch, and this represents the best recent effort to present Bosch's works on an introductory level.Koldeweij examines Bosch's obscure biography; Vermet discusses the problems of dating and attribution of Bosch's works; Vandenbroeck looks at some of the themes in Bosch's iconography.The only problem with the book is a lack of imagery details.The reproductions are beautiful, but there are not enough of them.The publishers should have made the book much larger with more images.The publishers should have used Charles de Tolnay's huge monograph for a model.As of yet, there is no definitive Bosch monograph that combines Tolnay's amount of image examples and Dirk Bax's exhaustive iconographic analyses.But if I had to pick a good introduction to Bosch and his works, this would be it.

Get Your Glasses Out
I've been thinking about buying this book and finally came across it in a bookstore so I was able to preview it before buying it on amazon.[com] I'm glad I did because like other reviews, the main disappointment with this book is that the paintings are reproduced small. They're reproduced almost as footnotes to the text but my main reason in buying an art book is for the visuals. And with Bosch, there are so many details but they were just too small to see here. The art should have been given a full page without text surrounding an image. This was a big let down, I was looking forward to buying this book, but now I'll pass on it. With the small reproductions it just isn't worth the price. The 1 star is for Bosch's art which is still great despite the poor book design.

Look elsewhere for Bosch...
This book has three essay chapters. The first chapter deals with Bosch's home town..... anything about Bosch's home town. Details are thrown in because they are known, even when they do not add to our understanding of Bosch. The second chapter discusses a new method for dating the wood panels that Bosch and others painted on, and questions whether some paintings can really be attributed to Bosch. This could be an interesting discussion if there was more explanation of how the paintings had been judged and attributed to Bosch previously. Instead it is new data without much context. The final chapter deals with the imagery of Bosch. This has the potential to be the most enlightening, but falls well short. By the end the reader may know a little more about Bosch, but not enough to warrant wading through this book.
Now all could still be forgiven if the presentation of the artwork was good. Because Bosch is enjoyable without explanations. But the presentation in the book is not. The paintings and drawings appear scattered throughout with no rhyme or reason. The numbering of the pictures is frustrating to follow. You will be searching back and forth through the book looking for the pictures that correspond to the point being made in the text. When you do find the picture, you probably will be disappointed. Even the quintessential Bosch work " The Garden of Earthly Delights" is presented in quarter page size. In contrast Bosch imitators are given larger representation. I don't understand why. The poor lay-out even extends to page numbering. There is a reason for the convention of numbering pages on the outer margins away from the spine. This was brought home very strongly as I searched for the page numbers halfway along the pages near the spine. This may sound a trivial complaint, but this book seemed designed to test the patience of the reader. "Luckily" I got this book for half price, but that was still paying way too much. There are far better and cheaper books out there on Bosch. Go with them.

Look elsewhere for Bosch...
This book has three essay chapters. The first chapter deals with Bosch's home town..... anything about Bosch's home town. Details are thrown in because they are known, even when they do not add to our understanding of Bosch. The second chapter discusses a new method for dating the wood panels that Bosch and others painted on, and questions whether some paintings can really be attributed to Bosch. This could be an interesting discussion if there was more explanation of how the paintings had been judged and attributed to Bosch previously. Instead it is new data without much context. The final chapter deals with the imagery of Bosch. This has the potential to be the most enlightening, but falls well short. By the end the reader may know a little more about Bosch, but not enough to warrant wading through this book.
Now all could still be forgiven if the presentation of the artwork was good. Because Bosch is enjoyable without explanations. But the presentation in the book is not. The paintings and drawings appear scattered throughout with no rhyme or reason. The numbering of the pictures is frustrating to follow. You will be searching back and forth through the book looking for the pictures that correspond to the point being made in the text.
When you do find the picture, you probably will be disappointed. Even the quintessential Bosch work " The Garden of Earthly Delights" is presented in quarter page size. In contrast Bosch imitators are given larger representation. I don't understand why.
The poor lay-out even extends to page numbering. There is a reason for numbering the pages on the outer margins, away from the spine. This was brought home very strongly as I searched for the page numbers halfway along the pages near the spine. This may sound a trivial complaint, but this book seemed designed to test the patience of the reader.
I got this book for half price, but that was still paying way too much. There are far better and cheaper books out there on Bosch. Go with them.

Scholarly but poorly presented
As a scholarly discussion of Bosch the book is excellent.However, as a presentation of his art it is absolutely atrocious.All complete pictures are shown in a miniature form nearly impossible to study, and details are disjointedly scattered throughout the book and unduly difficult to track down.This is not a book for those who want to experience and enjoy Bosch's art for its own sake. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

New Light on an Old Master!
I read this book with real interest, and am very impressed by the author's arguments. As I see it, none of the other interpretations(Bosch as a Catholic; Bosch as an Adamite; Bosch as an Alchemist) ring true to the same extent. When Harris discusses the hidden Cathar (ie, Gnostic) meanings in Bosch's paintings she exposes hidden depths.We find convincing explanations for quirky images likesaints surrounded by devils, monsters in the Garden of Eden, the strange unified landscapes of Hell and Earth in the Last Judgement scenes, and the peculiar gates and the circle of animals in the Garden of Earthly Delights, to name just a few. All Bosch's works are covered, and all fit into the overall world-view of the Cathars.

Who would have guessed, for example, that Bosch's Seven Deadly Sins painting had so many hidden heretical symbols, or that his picture of life after death can also be seen on 15th century Bosnian tombstones? Who would have realized that Bosch's art contained so many Italian Renaissance features?All this is not what you'd expect, and it's the originality and excitement of discovery that makes this book so especially interesting.

Traditional Bosch fanciers may not agree with Harris's new interpretaton of Bosch's paintings, but original ideas often take a long time to sink in. For me, this well produced book, with its many illustrations, its sympathy with the spiritual side of the Gnostic Cathar religion, and its wide ranging subject matter, is a real eye opener.

Well, maybe! But probably not!
This book presents the intriguing theory that the fantastic Dutch painter Hieronymous Bosch was a member of a heretical sect called the Cathars, who believed that Satan created the Earth and trapped human souls in living matter (bodies). That is why, according to Harris, Bosch paints the Earth as a place inhabited by his famous and fanciful demons. The Cathars apparently believed that you must escape this hell on Earth to be reunited with the heavenly spirit.

The problem with this theory is that there is not a shred of evidence to support it, and Harris herself apparently isn't able to present any. Very little is known about the life of this artist. Harris tries to convince us that her theory is correct by interpreting the paintings as Cathar symbols -- an argument that goes something like: "Here is another Cathar symbol; that confirms my theory. Bosch was a Cathar, etc." The trouble is that most of the "Cathar" symbols are more generally Christian symbols and have been agreed to as such by most other Bosch scholars. There is no need to regard them as heretical. Most of the "anti-religious" symbols in Bosch's paintings are explanable as criticism of a corrupt Catholic clergy just before the advent of Martin Luther. Widespread discontent was understandably in the air.

An example of Harris's biased eye is her forced interpretation of Bosch's painting of "John the Baptist (JB) in the Wilderness", pages 155-156. The Cathars regarded JB as an agent of Satan who falsely set himself up as a divine messenger of God. To the Cathars JB was the Anti-Christ. If Bosch were the Cathar zealot that Harris portrays, one would expect to see demons and evil symbols covering this painting, both in the landscape and even on JB himself. After all, they are present in most of Bosch's paintings, even those of a less provocative topic to Cathars than JB. But I see nothing of the sort here. JB is portrayed benignly reclining on the earth and gently pointing to a lamb, the symbol of Christ, as if to say "Here lies the way". What Harris calls the "Tree of Death" is central to the painting and her argument, but it appears to be very much alive, bearing plentiful seeds or fruit which birds are finding delicious and hearty. This, she simply ignores. None of the satanic symbols that Harris herself describes in other paintings appear here. Where is the evil owl, the malignant crescent, the devilish toad, etc? Instead, there is a beautiful pastoral scene, with the gentle Saint lying in peaceful contemplation. There is no hint at all that JB is an agent of the Devil -- quite the contrary.

Despite this major flaw, one can obliquely glean interesting insights from this book. The writing is clear and the examples are relevant to the text. Harris probes the symbolism in detail and analyzes several paintings with interest. But, interpreting them as Cathar political statements is simply incredible. I'm not saying that Harris is necessarily wrong, but that the argument just doesn't support her theory. I find her argument to be less than convincing.

An original, interesting and perceptive book.
At last a new angle on the strange paintings of Hieronymus Bosch.This is a well written and researched book, and seems to solve many mysteries in the artist's work.

Fascinating, original & perceptive
This must be the answer to the mystery of Bosch's paintings.A fascinating book which keeps you hooked to the end.Full of new ideas. ... Read more

Book Description
Few paintings inspire the kind of intense study and speculation as Garden of Earthly Delights, the luminous triptych by Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch. The painting has been interpreted as a heretical masterpiece, an opulent illustration of the Creation and a premonition of the end of the world. In this new flexi-cover edition of the book, renowned art historian Hans Belting offers a radical reinterpretation of the work, which he sees not as apocalyptic, but utopian, portraying how the world would exist had the Fall not happened. Taking readers through each panel, Belting discusses various schools of thought and explores Bosch's life and times. This fascinating study is an important contribution to the literature and theory surrounding one of the world's most enigmatic artists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hieronymous Bosch
I love it. It shows all the paintings and information. I used it for a school project. It rocks. Go buy it .
IT ROCKS ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Henry Miller is the Best
This one is slightly different for Miller, more laid back, but as usual he is the most brilliant and intensely unique writer ever to come from America (at least to my knowledge). He's a Walt Whitman and a Mark Twain and a William Blake rolled into one genius. I say read ALL of Henry Miller you can get your hands on, and be glad!

Art is a healing process
My first glimpse into the world of Henry Miller has brought me a new highly admired author to read. Though 'Big Sur' is reputed to be one of his more 'tame works'...Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn having been banned works for years due to their highly sexual content, the mind of Miller is indeed a wonderous place to explore.

I came across this title while searching online for info about Kerouac's novel 'Big Sur', and decided to indulge in this one as well. And a happy treat awaited me.

Having only recent begun to enjoy 'biography as fiction' works, it takes a rare author to put one at peace with their words, when they are simply a recounting of thier own life and adventures. Miller wrote 'Big Sur' not so much as a 'novel', since there is not a conventional thread to follow, other than the location and himself as protagonist, but more as a memoir of the 15 years spent in this California 'paradise' of artists, bohemians, and eclectic characters. Through describing his tranquil, ambling days spent walking back and forth with supplies from town, meeting the thrice-per-week mail delivery, or simply writing, the reader gets to experience the serenity that Miller enjoyed throughout most of his time there. Being a Virgo I look for structure, order, sense, etc., in most things, especially literature. Little of that is to be found here, really, but Miller's style is so captivating that you can't help but read on.His serenity at Big Sur easily becomes your own.

But be warned, that serenity is interrupted by the arrival of an oversees acquaintance, Conrad Moricand, who turns Miller's idyllic home upside down during his stay there. Moricand, an ailing, miserable, curmudgeonly man comes to Big Sur upon Miller's request, and had the term 'houseguest from hell' been utilized in the days this novel was written, it's easy to say that Moricand would have received this title.

For anyone thinking of exploring the works of Henry Miller for the first time, perhaps avoiding his more famous works until gaining a bit of insight into something a little more 'platonic' such as this book might be well-advised.It will pave the way of interest into this fascinating author, and hopefully spark further investigation, as it has with me.

Highly recommended.

Enjoyable -- You'll dig it!
After writing The Air Conditioned Nightmare, Henry Miller had almost given up hope on America. This book, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, recounts how he feel in love with the country all over again. Set in Northern California, Big Sur is portraitized as being no less than a paradise to this influencial writer. He was seeking to eke out some peaceful lifestyle in the mountains, and for a while he found it. But it did not take long for groupies, love children, and any other manner of lost souls to begin knocking on his door. They were looking for the "cult of anarchy and sex!" and they thought Miller, who had already published and gained notoriety with The Tropic of Cancer, would be the one to lead the way. This book has a definite buoyancy that the reader thrives off. His descriptions of writers, artists,children,and vagabongs is top notch. I would also advise anyone who is seriously interested in the subject, to pick up a copy of Hunter S. Thompson's The Proud Highway. It includes an excellent essay on his take on Miller's "sudden" fame. So pick up this book! Other quick Amazon picks would be Tropic of Cancer, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez

One of20 books I'd choose to take to a deserted isle
This book, and a couple of others by Miller and L. Durrell, was responsible for my husband and me quitting our jobs in LA and going to Greece for a year. And several times in the past decades, I've made pilgrimages to Partington Ridge/cove/trail/creek down the coast of Big Sur to revisit the place Miller lived and to pay homage to a great writer, a great spirit, and a great human being. Each time I stop and look up the trail toward the ridge, I swear I can see stringy, rangy Miller, sweating as he pulls a goat-cart laden with mail and groceries from the drop-off spot by the highway back up to his convict shack near the top.
The book has no real plot; it?s just a rambling and random collection of philosophy, character studies, literary/artistic commentary, and journaling - all delivered with Miller's completely unique and quirky mind. I don't believe a more open-minded, curious, brilliant writer has ever lived, and for me, this is his best book, written perhaps during some of his best and most peaceful years of his long and joyful life. At its core, it's a recipe for Life.

saved my life
I first read this book exactly ten years ago when I was struggling through a profound period of depression. I don't want to say that the book cured me, because that would be too facile and too drastic a declaration, but I will say that Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch was the first real beacon, the first glimmer of light to lead me out of a suffocating psychological cave. I don't know why, exactly, but when I began reading the book, a deep sense of peace came over me for the first time in several months. The book seemed to open up my eyes and my ears and my throat and even my lungs; I found myself sucking in big sweet gulps of air, and I started to detect a freedom and a limitlessness in the world that I had previously failed to recognize. Of course, there is no way that I can promise that you will have the same reaction. Over the years I have passed the book along to various friends: Some of them have fallen in love with it and some of them have been utterly bored. That is understandable. The book has no plot; in fact, it doesn't really pretend to have any forward momentum. The narrative just floats. As other reviewers have noted (both enthusiastically and bitterly), Henry Miller delivers in this book a seemingly random swirl of philosophy, wit, character studies, soaring observations of topography and weather, literary and arty musings, puzzles, koans, epigrams, aphorisms, scripture, historical trivia, astrological forecasts, and jokes. It does not, upon first glance, have any point whatsoever. But that, friend, is the point. What Miller is laying out here (in a unique way, free of the usual hippie jargon) is a meditation on how to live a different life, a vibrant life, a life of the spirit, which is, by his definition, a narrative that refuses to conform to the usual numbing standards of conduct. So if you are looking for a "story," per se, keep driving until you get to Monterey. And if you are looking for some of Henry Miller's famously invigorating foulness and fury, pick up Tropic of Cancer instead. If you are looking for peace, stop here.
Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch is for any reader who is in the mood for a beguiling rumination on how a man once tried to bring peace into his life. The story, as such, is this: Henry Miller moves to Big Sur, one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and sets out to create a new home infused with energy, creativity, a sense of community, and an appreciation of nature, while at the same time he copes with intrusions and financial pressures and the charisma and creepiness of other people. That's it. If that sounds dull to you, steer clear. If it sounds seductive to you, plunge in. Because if these are issues that gnaw at your soul (and maybe they should, since our media-saturated culture is becoming more programmed and conformist every day), then you might find this book to be a page-turner as gripping as any of John Grisham's potboilers. I could not put it down. I read it straight through, and afterwards, I felt like every step I took was charged up with a new vitality. Crazy, huh? The way I see it, Henry Miller's big lascivious grin was one of the bravest acts of American rebellion, because it came roaring out of his heart, and the heart is where all true liberation takes place. That's the appeal of this book, for anybody who cares to explore it. In my case, this book said to a depressed man: There is another way to live. Choose it. ... Read more

Book Description
Attractive, affordable, and adorable, these miniature versions of popular Prestel titles are the perfect gifts.

They're packed with color, yet small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. They're as inviting to the eye as they are to the wallet. And there are titles to suit every occasion, taste, and interest. Like all of Prestel's products, these "Minis" feature amazing artwork of all kinds, elegantly designed and packaged. Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or just time for a pick-me-up, these miniature treasures prove that little things mean a lot. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nice reference
This painting inspired many theories and this book proposes one of them. It has many close-ups and excellent reproductions. Worth the price.

earthly delight

fantastic XL pictures
it is a great book and sorry that the publisher
will not reprint this book at the moment.
It is worth it.

delightful mini
This book is really mini, tiny and it works for a curious glimpse at this wonderful piece of art. It has no text and shows extracted parts of the piece that are zoomed in order to see the details. The printing is very good and colorful. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This biography of 15th-century Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch is written and designed especially for young readers (ages 10-15). While not much is known about the life of Bosch, author and scholar Gary Schwartz melds what little information there is with vivid descriptions about what life was like in the 1400s to convey, in particular, a sense of how religion played a central role in the understanding of art at that time. Schwartz presents his own and other scholars' interpretations of Bosch's symbol-rich paintings, but most importantly, he challenges young readers to draw their own conclusions. The book is illustrated throughout with carefully selected, enlarged details, and Bosch's most famous work, the multi- paneled Garden of Delights, is presented in a gorgeous gatefold. Although intended for a younger audience, this clothbound volume is produced to the same exacting standards as any Abrams book: the paper quality and printing lavish, and no attention to detail has been spared. Included are an index, a list of illustrations, and 36 of the 55 illustrations reproduced in full color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great paintings by a great artist!
I just love the paintings in this book. I found it in the library, and the front is very eye-catching, I check it out right away. Earlier I have only seen his paintings, never knowing anything more about the artist than thathe isknown for his religious art. It was nice to know a bit about the mantoo, the little that is known today. ... Read more

Book Description
The paintings of Hieronymus Bosch (1450—1516) have captivated and confounded observers for centuries, leading to wildly varying conclusions on the artist’s spirituality. Kurt Falk presents the first analysis of Bosch’s inner life in light of a hitherto unknown—and now lost—version of one of his seminal works, The Last Judgment, found by the author in Cairo in the mid-1930s.

With an introduction by spiritual psychologist Robert Sardello, The Unknown Hieronymus Bosch presents an entirely new way of looking at this art–not through the framework of art history or the notion of a school of painting, but through the spirit. Falk’s analysis reveals the ways in which Bosch addresses creation, including the exalted and fallen spiritual worlds so prevalent in his work. The author’s conclusions are startling but persuasive: that Bosch had strong links to Rosicrucianism, that many of the paintings feature a curious onlooker figure we now understand as a spirit-witness, and that Bosch had in fact developed the capacity to clairvoyantly know the extraordinary worlds he portrays in such exacting detail. The book’s high-quality reproductions, carefully rendered in the paintings’ true colors, offer powerful visual support for the author’s theories. ... Read more

Book Description
This volume, one in a series of lavishly illustrated paperback books on major artists and their works, tells the story of Bosch. From a look at the artist's life and times, to the historical and social context in which he worked, to an analysis of his masterpieces, this is a vital visual resource with more than 300 superb full-color illustrations. The fact-based text is aimed at the general reader, and makes the series perfect for art-history students and art lovers of all ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent small book on Bosch
An excellent intro for the newbie to Bosch as well as a nice pickup for the experienced Bosch connoisseur.This 143 page paperback with color plates has color-coded edges corresponding to three overarching sections in the painter's oeuvre: Background, Life and Works, and Masterpieces.The book's cover indicates a "life in paintings" yet the real biographical information is interspersed with the presentation of the pieces, and the details of Bosch's life are themselves sparse.However for a quick overview and summary of this amazing artist's career, the book is second to none.There are certainly other books which provide a larger quantity of information and interpretation about the paintings as well as enlarged details of the paintings themselves, but what is here is impressive.The book will whet the appetite of any starting Bosch student through the discussion of Bosch's motives and possible meanings in scenes from his work, with elucidative lines of text nearby the selected detail.Particularly useful are the paragraphs setting up the historical context for all of this mystifying imagery.Overall a solid book, the only possible drawback the brevity of the text itself.Contains an index of people and places.

Bosch is a Man of So Many Hidden Characteristics
We may never know much about him, as there are so few histories written about him. This is a great book for those who've never heard of him and for art enthusiasts wanting to expand their shelves on books about artists, but there's not much new and different biographical information about Bosch's like in it. The explanations of his works are phenomenal, however. ... Read more

Book Description
The Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch is everybody's favorite weird artist. His strange but beautiful paintings, created 500 years ago, continue to fascinate people today with their half-human/half-animal creatures, demons, imaginary constructions, and turbulent fantasies. It's easy to understand how Bosch became a forerunner of the 20th-century Surrealists. The Essential(tm) Hieronymus Bosch is the book to read if you have zero tolerance for artspeak and a lively curiosity about what has made this painter so popular. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for art, much less so for theology
I did a double-take when this author attempted to explain details of Roman Catholicism as a key to grasping Bosch's paintings.

"The ceremony takes place at an altar that contains precious relics, which are real pieces either of the body of Christ or of a saint, or of something they have touched."

Ok, that's not Christian theology at all. Simply put, it is blasphemy. No editor caught this one?

Luckily, the author seems to be much better at writing about art than theology. However, as I am a neophyte about art (hence, my reading of this book) it makes me much less sure of the accuracy of the author's views after seeing such a huge blooper about something that even the most basic Christian knows.

I am enjoying the art info enough to give it this four star rating. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Marvelously Imaginative
Medieval Dutch painter Hieronymous Bosch often included strange creatures in his paintings.Of course, as a busy artist, he would have employed a housekeeper, and she might have been a trifle disturbed by the many bizarre creations inhabiting the household.This is the premise behind Willard's poem.The housekeeper, exasperated by having to deal with "three-legged thistles" sleeping in her wash, an oven which turns itself into a rake, and dragons which block the sink, packs her bags and leaves.She doesn't realize until much later, however, that several of the strange creatures have stowed away in her baggage.They beg her to return and Bosch is so happy to see her again that he promises to reinvent his creatures to be more helpful to her.They marry and (presumably) live happily (but weirdly) ever after.

I wish I had had this book when I was a child-I think I would have spent many hours returning to it again and again to enjoy the cadence of the poetry and explore the weirdness of the illustrations.However, since it was written thirty years after I was born, I guess I can't feel too deprived, and I'm glad to have it now.What a delight!It's a rich and beautiful book.

Without a doubt, while Willard's poem is very entertaining to read aloud, this book is all about the illustrations.They do it all: complement, extend, and enrich the story.They are filled with movement, befitting the commotion the poor housekeeper must endure in a house inhabited by two-headed bats, pickle-winged fish, and a pigeon-toed rat.The only calm picture illustrates the housekeeper's memory of working as a laundress at a convent.It is dominated by three serene nuns in dark habits.It presents a sharp contrast to the madcap Bosch household, where something is peeking, creeping, running, clinging or jumping everywhere one looks.The housekeeper looks furious for much of the book, and her clothing is a swirl of red, white, and black.After walking twenty-two miles to (I'm assuming) her parents' home, she collapses in bed.The three scenes here are a study in blues and greens, enhancing the nighttime setting.Her startled face is caught in the glow of lamplight as "a mole in a habit, a thistledown rabbit, a troop of jackdaws, a three-legged dish, the pickle-winged fish, and a head wearing claws" leap from her luggage and entreat her to return home.She flies home on the fish, and daylight returns in full color.Bosch (sleeping with a ludicrous colander on his head) appears in a red nightshirt and slippers with enormous red pom-poms, and dances joyously with his bride-to-be as the newly helpful creatures look on.There are fewer of them in this final scene, and the housekeeper smiles radiantly.It's interesting that the final illustration, the wedding feast, is left for the back cover of the book.

Glorious illustrations matched by singing language
This has got to be one of my favorite children's books.I don't know which is more impressive--the extravagant Bosch-inspired illustrations, or the witty verse with its precise rhymes and impeccable rhythm.At first it appears to be a too-precious book appreciated only by adults, but in fact children seem to love it too.My 3-year-old son, entranced by the jumping, singing langauge, loves it.He particularly enjoys all the talk ofcreepy crawlies and moster-animal hybrids.("Which one is the pickle-winged bat, Mama?")

It appears to be out of print at this time (9/22/03).No!!!!!!!!!!!It is an unbelievably good book, and it ought to be available.Anyone I've ever given it to as a gift has treasured it.Now we'll have to treasure our copies all the more.

Introducing Hieronymus Bosch.....
"Once upon a time there was an artist named Hieronymus Bosch who loved odd creatures.Not a day passed that the good woman who looked after his house didn't find a new creature lurking in a corner or sleeping in a cupboard..."So begins Nancy Willard's inventive picture book about this mysterious Dutch painter who filled his canvasses with fantastic and intriguing beings of all shapes and sizes.This poor housekeeper couldn't take it anymore."I'm quitting your service, I've had quite enough/of your three-legged thistles asleep in my wash,/of scrubbing the millstone you use for a dish,/and riding to shops on a pickle-winged fish."She packs her bags and leaves, but once out on her own, finds she misses all the chaos her employer's imagination brings to life, and comes flying back home on that pickle-winged fish to a happily-ever-after ending.....Ms Willard's clever, rhyming text has a medieval look and feel, and a lyrical cadence that begs to be read aloud.But it's Diane and Leo Dillons' amazing and evocative artwork that really makes this book stand out and sparkle.Youngsters will enjoy poring over and exploring the bold and engaging pictures of two headed dragons, dancing cucumbers, monkeys, and lizards, and beehives in boots... and are sure to find something new and exciting each and every time they open the book.Perfect for kids 5 and older, Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch is a creative and entertaining introduction and includes a short biography at the end to complete the story.This is definitely a picture book budding art lovers shouldn't miss.

Gorgeous and Enticing
This book is worth buying for the illustrations alone.Although the story is not terrifically compelling, and some of the words are too difficult for young children, the book as a whole is a pleasure - endless fun for reading aloud, quite enjoyable for adults and children both.

The rhymed verse tells of the woes of Bosch's beknighted housekeeper, who must do all the standard house chores while caring for - and being harrassed by - Bosch's collection of weird creatures.She decamps, but finds she can't live without Bosch or his menagerie.Naturally, they live happily ever after.Some of language here is a little advanced, and most kids will understand the book better if an adult helps read it the first few times through.

The real heart of the book is not the story but the menagerie - the fish with pickle wings, the dandified oven, the three-legged thistles, the assorted dragons and reptiles - that lives all over and through Bosch's house.The illustrations perfectly capture the peculiar creatures, making them oddly appealing as well as just odd, in lovely, richly-colored and highly detailed renderings.The special frame (the work of the artists' son) is also wonderful.

So, although the story is a little weak, this book as a whole is a treasure; it's a literate, intelligent work that acts a springboard to fun and imagination for readers of all ages.The hardbound edition makes an excellent gift for adults who are fans of Bosch or just fantasy, as well as for kids who are tired of cute little stories about Squishy-Wishy Squirrel.

Gorgeous and Enticing
This book is worth buying for the illustrations alone.Although the story is not terrifically compelling, and some of the words are too difficult for young children, the book as a whole is a pleasure - endless fun for reading aloud, quite enjoyable for adults and children both.

The rhymed verse tells of the woes of Bosch's beknighted housekeeper, who must do all the standard house chores while caring for - and being harrassed by - Bosch's collection of weird creatures.She decamps, but finds she can't live without Bosch or his menagerie.Naturally, they live happily ever after.Some of language here is a little advanced, and most kids will understand the book better if an adult helps read it the first few times through.

The real heart of the book is not the story but the menagerie - the fish with pickle wings, the dandified oven, the three-legged thistles, the assorted dragons and reptiles - that lives all over and through Bosch's house.The illustrations perfectly capture the peculiar creatures, making them oddly appealing as well as just odd, in lovely, richly-colored and highly detailed renderings.The special frame (the work of the artists' son) is also wonderful.

So, although the story is a little weak, this book as a whole is a treasure; it's a literate, intelligent work that acts a springboard to fun and imagination for readers of all ages.The hardbound edition makes an excellent gift for adults who are fans of Bosch or just fantasy, as well as for kids who are tired of cute little stories about Squishy-Wishy Squirrel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Definitive!
This magnificent (33 by 25 cm) 513 page book must be the most insightful, the most imaginative, the most comprehensive and the most lavishly illustrated scholarly work about Hieronimus (or Jeroen) Bosch available. And it will remain so for a long time to come, probably.
The layout is very clear. It begins with a short chapter on the known records about the family history and biography from 1462 until about 1575. After that there folows a description the catalogue of works attributed to Bosch and the methods with which we could come to a more difinitive list of the works that can be attributed unequivocally to him. After that comes a description of Bosch' schooling and the sources that we have to corroborate this. Folowing that there comes a very useful summary of all the different interpretations of Bosch' oeuvre, the whole Bosch-exegesis over the centuries, in a strictly chronological order from 'before 1563' until '1986' which is followed by a nice summing up - in an overarching view - of some of these different interpretations or methods of research by the author himself. Lastly, before really beginning his detailed description of all Bosch' works, the author - in 'A Trial of Interpretation' - shortly underpins his own method of interpretation in the chapters to follow, where he stresses the need for reserve and not to be wanting to try to 'lute all the gaps in our knowledge with guesses and hypotheses of our own fabrication'.
After these 'chapters', the book is devided into sections where all the different works are ordered into four types, namely 'Triptychs', 'Fragments of Triptychs', 'Independent Works (or Panels)' and 'Disputed Attributations'. These chapters all follow the same very clear and insightful method of interpretation. The author first of all starts each chapter with a short introduction and the goes on to a meticulous description and interpretation of all the works themselves. At the start of each of these chapters describing a particular work, there is a colour-reproduction of the complete work under scrutiny. He does this in the most erudite and insightful manner possible, giving a detailed description of the history of interpretation as well as firmly placing it within its o w n time and history. After this description there follows a beautiful array of full page details from the same work with very insightful quotes from books of that same age which describe in a way what we are seeing in that very same detail of Bosch' work. Or sometimes the author even gives a description of specific social, political, or economical situations of that time that one should know to be able to understand exactly what it is we see depicted.
All in all this is a book that is made with the highest care and love for and insight in the genius Jeroen Bosch' fantastic and colorful oeuvre. There is no other book about his works in which so many gorgeous detail is visible. The pages dedicated to page-wide details of the Garden of Earthly Delights alone spreads for 50 pages!
If you love Bosch' works, if you want to know everything that is to know about it and if you want to revel in its unique, colorful and imaginative beauty (for lack of the better alternative, which is to go and look at the paintings themselves, of course), you should try and find this book for yourself immediately! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The book is very good, andthe paintings are interesting.
The book, " The Life and Works of HieronymusBosch ", is very good because I learned about themeanings of his paintings.This book doesn't have a lot of information about Bosch's life because in those day'speople didn't keep records but, you found out information through hispaintings. I found it interesting that Bosch's real name was Jerome VanAken. He got his first name from the Latin version of his name Hieronymus,and took his last name from his home town. Another interesting fact was,his paintings showed vivid images of the people in life. His paintingsshowed a fantasy of good and evil. Bosch did a lotof paintings where thehuman being is suffering or showing anger at being punished for a bad life.He paints about Christ and various saints such asAnthony, Jerome, andJames.They would guide people to a good life on Earth, so they could havea good life in Heaven. Bosch is a unexplainable man because, he had a worldof his own, through his artwork we get a glimpse of the man. ... Read more