Hieronymus Bosch: Garden Of Earthly Delights [Paperback]

Hans Belting (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2005

Few paintings inspire the kind of intense study and speculation as the "Garden of Earthly Delights," the luminous triptych by Nertherlandish 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. Enhanced by a fold-out reproduction of the original painting, this fascinating study is an important contribution to the literature and theory surrounding one of the world's most enigmatic artists.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although Hieronymus Bosch's triptych painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights, has fascinated viewers for centuries, commentators have been perplexed about its intended meaning. In this book, German art historian Belting (Thomas Struth) argues persuasively for an interpretation of the enigmatic central panel as a representation of the earthly paradise that would have existed if Adam and Eve's fall had never taken place. Belting's book is more philosophical and less comprehensive than Jos Koldeweij and others' recent Hieronymus Bosch: The Complete Paintings and Drawings, and Belting's discussion of the religious and cultural context of Bosch's art sometimes strays so far from the art itself that it is hard to see the connection. This book is valuable, however, for its novel view of a much-discussed painting. A large foldout reproduction of the triptych and many close-up views and reproductions of several related works add to the book's value. Recommended for scholarly and specialized collections.
Kathryn Wekselman, Cincinnati, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"A large foldout reproduction of the triptych and many close-up vies and reproductions of several related works add the value." -- Library Journal, December 2002

"An excellent introduction to this artist and one of his masterpieces." -- Wall Street Journal, December 2002

"An excellent introduction to this artist and one of his masterpieces." -- Wall Street Journal

"Hans Belting elaborates on even the tiniest component persuasively and produces a masterful history of this famed art icon." -- Commuter Week, November 2002

Included in Choice’s annual Outstanding Academic Title list. -- Choice, October 2002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Pub; 2nd edition (April 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791333208
• ISBN-13: 978-3791333205
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful plates, wonderful price, November 7, 2009

By 

Richard Hyman (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hieronymus Bosch: Garden Of Earthly Delights (Paperback)

An excellent monograph on Bosch's most important, endlessly fascinating, painting. You can accept the distinguished author's interpretations or not but the plates are what counts. The size of the central panel is 6" wide by 7" high and the side panels 3" x 7" - too small to gain more than a sense of the work but the marvelous details, which I take to be actual size, are very clear with both the craquelure and pentimenti visible. The screen is so fine magnification is required to see it. In a way the illlustrations are better than being in Madrid: no one standing in front, nor extraneous noise, nor guard to shoo you back. My only wish is the format were larger, but then the cost would be so much greater. The current after market price of $1.55 represents an incredible bargain.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very detailed new images, November 3, 2009

By 

D K - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Hieronymus Bosch: Garden of Earthly Delights (Art & Design) (Hardcover)

...The plates in this book show fantastic detail. Every crack in the paint is visible in many of the closeups. These are new pictures taken after the painting, was cleaned & restored. Some of these same photos are also used in this poster "book" by the same publisher: ( # ISBN-10: 3791330705 & # ISBN-13: 978-3791330709, with a detachable poster of the painting, 24 pages, 16.3 x 9.2 x 0.3 inches).
...This book does not show all of his paintings. It is focused on the one in the title "Garden Of Earthly Delights".
...The theory is interesting.

3.0 out of 5 stars great info. poor binding, January 29, 2012

By 

Gottfried Schmer (Pusan, Korea (South)) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Hieronymus Bosch: Garden Of Earthly Delights (Paperback)

The binding to this book is already falling apart after one reading. Why don't publishing company spend more money on making books last a lifetime? As a booklover, I do not want to buy any newly published works since the quality of paper and binding is poor.