Hardly, A Garden of Earthly Delights
I attempted to read the painting the way I believe Hieronymus Bosch intended and to decipher the correct order to view it. The first part of the painting to be examined is the outside cover. The image is on the outside of the two wings which cover and protect the inside triptych painting. These outside panels depict the third day of earth’s creation through a strange floating orb of planet earth. The palette is grey blues and is strangely otherworldly. It is a signal to the viewer to expect more weirdness once the panels are opened.
Inside there is a triptych painting that reveals a part of an overall narrative of God's creation of earth and the dire consequences of man’s behavior. It is an obvious reference to the Old Testament, book of Genesis. Because this is a western artist, it is natural to believe that the piece is to be read from left to right, the same way westerners read.
On the interior, the viewer should begin on the left hand panel. A passive scene backs up my claim as God is seen presenting Eve to Adam. The humans are in the physical image of God. “And God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them: male and female. He created them” Genesis 1:27. This is Adam and Eve’s first introduction so this is before their consumption of the fruit of knowledge or their temptation, however you believe. The Bible says God commanded Adam and Eve to be “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” Genesis 1:28. From this tranquil and pastoral setting the eye moves to the center panel, a garden of earthly delights.
For this artist, I believe an alternate word for delight, could be indulgences. This panel is supposed to be read from bottom to top. I came to this conclusion by the artist’s transition of the human figures. At the bottom, they are being tempted with small fruit by dark human figures or demons. As the viewer’s eyes move up the frame the human figures become intoxicated and consumed by the extravagant fruits. Here, the fruits are now larger, maybe signifying the humans’ growing desire for them. Towards the top of the frame, the figures are using animals for their pleasure and then the human figures take on animal characteristics. This signifies the end of the transition from prudent innocence to complete focus on indulgence and decadence. Temptation and sin have consumed the world and its inhabitants.
On to the right panel, one sees Bosch’s depiction of his grim conclusion, the consequences of man’s behavior. “Hell” is a place hideous and surreal where all humans are tortured. This artist apparently believes that God is capable of inflicting horrible punishment and that there are dire consequences for those who do not behave as he wishes. It is a warning to those that disobey and don’t believe in God’s will. They will be judged and punished for their sins.
No viewer of this painting would want to end up in Bosch’s version of Hell.
