Bosch Follower's 'Hell' Sells for $537,600 at Sotheby's

A 16th-century oil-on-panel painting titled 'Hell,' attributed to a follower of Hieronymus Bosch, sold for $537,600 at Sotheby's New York on June 2, 2026, far exceeding its $30,000–$50,000 estimate. The 10-inch-tall work depicts a grotesque hell mouth with writhing figures, angels fleeing, and armies clashing beneath a medieval castle. It was created in the first half of the 16th century and previously belonged to the estate of San Francisco collector George Sarlo, as well as European and American collections including a Belgian baron and a Mexican diplomat. Scholars have debated its authorship, attributing it to Jan de Cock, Jan Wellens de Cock, or an anonymous Bosch follower. Ten bidders competed for six minutes, driving the final price to over ten times the high estimate. Sotheby's noted that the painting attracted both Old Master collectors and modern/contemporary art bidders, reflecting Bosch's enduring appeal.