Journey of Man

Hieronymus Bosch was born in about 1450 in ’s-Hertogenbosch, where he lived and worked all his life. He came from a family of painters. Not only his father, who was presumably his teacher, but also his brother, a cousin and several uncles worked in the family studio in the market square of ’s-Hertogenbosch. 

One of his important clients was the Confraternity of Our Lady. Bosch made several works for the redecoration of their chapel in Saint John’s Cathedral. He also advised the brothers regarding assignments to other artists and craftsmen, and was sometimes called upon to appraise the work they submitted.

However beautiful Bosch’s fanciful paintings may be, art historians are still often uncertain as to what they mean. Many of them, like the painting of Saint Christopher, depict bizarre worlds and creatures. Fish with legs, along with demons and monsters are recurrent motifs in Bosch´s oeuvre. Here, the animals are more earthly, but are strangely attendant to the pedlar’s every move.

The iniquity of humankind is a central theme in many of his works. The famous Pedlar is a case in point. Though opinions differ, it is generally believed to represent man’s journey through life. The pedlar in the painting is interpreted as Man, weighed down by the burden of sin on his back, endeavouring to live his life without succumbing to earthly temptation. 

Temptation is represented here by the brothel in the background.

Bosch’s famously wry sense of humor is also on display!