The Garden of Earthly Delights, c.1504

Genius, madman, or both, Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516) was a groundbreaking Flemish artist of the late Gothic period whose work continues to influence artists today. Uniquely gifted in his ability to explore the dark rivers of the mind, Bosch released his inner visions on to canvas. Contrary to the paintings of other Flemish painters which convey serenity and reality, Bosch’s work is rife with the macabre, allegorical symbolism and nightmarish images. Exhibiting brilliant colors and exceptional mastery of detail, Bosch’s unforgettable, often disturbing artworks, initially collected by King Phillip II of Spain, were forerunners of Surrealism.