Hans Belting's Masterful Reading of Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights
Hans Belting's study of Hieronymus Bosch's famous triptych, published by Éditions Gallimard, is a beautifully illustrated book that offers a precise and erudite interpretation. Belting, a rare non-French art historian regularly published in France, analyzes the closed triptych first, unfolding the analysis like the work itself. He highlights how Bosch's unbridled imagination, nourished by visual and literary references, transgresses classical representation by accumulating motifs rather than constructing perspective, while negotiating with established iconographic frameworks to remain acceptable. Belting situates the painting within cultural history, noting its multiple copies and its resonance for viewers in Brussels. The book concludes with reflections on utopia, making it a joyous moment of reading and knowledge.
Key facts
- Hans Belting is a non-French art historian regularly published in France.
- The book is published by Éditions Gallimard.
- The study focuses on Bosch's triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights.
- The book is abundantly and well-illustrated with high-quality details.
- Belting's analysis begins with the closed triptych and unfolds like the work.
- Bosch transgresses classical representation by accumulating motifs.
- The painting was the subject of multiple copies.
- The book concludes with reflections on utopia.
Entities
Artists
- Hans Belting
- Hieronymus Bosch
Institutions
- Éditions Gallimard
Locations
- France
- Brussels
- Belgium
Sources
- artpress —