The Secret Heresy of Hieronymus Bosch [Hardcover]

Lynda Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

The bizarre and fantastic paintings of the Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch have puzzled and intrigued their viewers for centuries. Following years of research which have taken her to every corner of Europe, Lynda Harris offers surprising new insights into Bosch's detailed and cryptic visual fantasies. Drawing on a wide variety of new sources, she deciphers Bosch's symbolism as the hidden expression of his heretical religious beliefs. She argues that Bosch belonged to the Cathar faith, a Manichean religious heresy which was persecuted and driven underground by the Church in the Middle Ages. This fabulously illustrated study reveals that while Bosch was carrying out commissions for his wealthy Catholic patrons, he was all the while coding his own inner heretical convictions in the hidden meanings of his paintings, as a record for posterity of the beliefs of his threatened religious sect.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'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. 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.' -- Craig Harris, Bosch Bookstore (www craigsweb.com/bosch.htm)

About the Author

Lynda Harris was born in New York City and spent her childhood there, as well as in Florence and Geneva. She also lived in Jerusalem before settling in London with her British husband and two children. She has a B.A. in History of Art from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, and graduate degrees from Boston University and the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. Her main research was on paintings of the Renaissance period. She has worked in museums but also spent many years giving classes to extra-mural students in London. In these classes, she began to develop ideas about Bosch which have evolved over some fifteen years to become her major interest. She now spends most of her time on writing and research.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 285 pages
• Publisher: Floris Books (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863151981
• ISBN-13: 978-0863151989
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Well, maybe! But probably not!, August 30, 2002

By 

Dr. Larry J Solomon (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Heresy of Hieronymus Bosch (Hardcover)

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.

30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Light on an Old Master!, November 28, 2003

By 

Ilta T. Adler (NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Heresy of Hieronymus Bosch (Hardcover)

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 like saints 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.

9 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An original, interesting and perceptive book., March 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secret Heresy of Hieronymus Bosch (Hardcover)

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.