Artist: Hieronymus Bosch (circa 1450–1516)
Title: The Pedlar, Part of The Haywain Tryptich
Genre: religious art Edit this at Wikidata
Date: circa 1500
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: height: 147.1 cm (57.9 in)
Collection: Museo del Prado
What I like about this painting:
Hieronymus Bosch tells a story in this scene that is the cover of an altar piece. We see a wayfarer walking a path that winds through dangerous territory. Thieves and murderers and carnal temptations tempt him to stop a while, but he keeps walking.
The hound of hell snaps at his heels as he keeps to the path and he shoves it behind him as he passes the bones of the fallen.
Bosch’s most famous altar pieces were quite graphic, gory even, depicting the prevailing 15th century idea of Hell. He painted his vision of what a sinner would face if one didn’t keep to the straight and narrow path of morality and righteousness.
About this painting, via Wikipedia:
The Haywain Triptych is a panel painting by Hieronymus Bosch, now in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain. A date of around 1516 has been established by means of dendrochronological research. The central panel, signed “Jheronimus Bosch”, measures 135 cm × 200 cm (53 in × 79 in) and the wings measure 147 cm × 66 cm (58 in × 26 in). The outside shutters feature a version of Bosch’s The Wayfarer.
The exterior of the shutters, like most contemporary Netherlandish triptychs, was also painted, although in this case Bosch used full colors instead of the usual grisaille. When closed, they form a single scene depicting a wayfarer. Around him is a series of miniatures including the robbery of another wayfarer and a hanged man. The man uses a stick to repel a dog.
According to the most recent interpretations, this figure may represent the man who follows his road in spite of the temptation of sins (such as lust, perhaps symbolized by the two dancing shepherds) and the evil acts occurring around him.[1]
About the Artist, via Wikipedia:
Little is known of Bosch’s life, though there are some records. He spent most of it in the town of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where he was born in his grandfather’s house. The roots of his forefathers are in Nijmegen and Aachen (which is visible in his surname: Van Aken). His pessimistic fantastical style cast a wide influence on northern art of the 16th century, with Pieter Bruegel the Elder being his best-known follower.
Today, Bosch is seen as a highly individualistic painter with deep insight into humanity’s desires and deepest fears. Attribution has been especially difficult; today only about 25 paintings are confidently given to his hand along with eight drawings. About another half-dozen paintings are confidently attributed to his workshop. His most acclaimed works consist of a few triptych altarpieces, including The Garden of Earthly Delights. [2]
Credits and Attributions:
IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons contributors, “File:The Pedlar, closed state of The Hay Wain by Hieronymus Bosch.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Pedlar,_closed_state_of_The_Hay_Wain_by_Hieronymus_Bosch.jpg&oldid=618864212 (accessed May 4, 2024).
[1] Wikipedia contributors, “The Haywain Triptych,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Haywain_Triptych&oldid=1221796985 (accessed May 4, 2024).
[2] Wikipedia contributors, “Hieronymus Bosch,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hieronymus_Bosch&oldid=1215179336 (accessed May 4, 2024).
Life in the Realm of Fantasy 
Although Wikipedia says there’s a hanged man, I can’t see it.
Hieronymous Bosch is a disturbing painter. I suppose he was trying to keep people on the straight and narrow by frightening them.
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Hello V! It’s not the poor victim they are tying to a tree. If you right-click on the image and open it in a new tab, you can zoom in and see more details. In the upper right/center, stands an empty scaffold with a ladder leaning against it. What seems to be a violent crowd is gathered around it, carrying something that appears to be struggling. Very ominous and definitely disturbing. I’m glad to be alive today, and not then!
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