Hieronymus Bosch: The World as Hell / Hell as the World

When we say "Bosch," we mean "demons," "temptations," and "hellish torments." The master from the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch, of course, was not the first medieval artist to depict posthumous punishments and fiery landscapes of the otherworld. However, the hell he envisioned is quite unlike the "standard" one.

Cities in flames; harps, knives, skates, and other objects that suddenly increase in size and turn into instruments of posthumous execution; demons uniting into squads and marching to war against sinners. It seems that Bosch is portraying not hell, but a world that has become hell.

How are his infernal spaces arranged? Why have even musical instruments become instruments of torture? What do the depictions of the underworld tell us about everyday life in the 15th century? And how are the wars reflected in them, the wars that the Dutch cities and their lords regularly waged?

Even the most inventive imagination (and Bosch had no equals in this!) creates imaginary worlds from elements of reality. Even the scariest nightmare (Freud would surely agree!) follows certain rules. Let’s try to find out what they are.

Speaker: Mikhail Mayzuls – historian and medievalist, Ph.D. in History. His areas of scholarly interest include the religious and cultural history of Western European Middle Ages, medieval iconography, the history of religious and political iconoclasm, and visual anthropology. Two-time winner of the "Enlightener" award.

After the lecture, there will be a Q&A session.

The event will be held in Russian at the Four Elements Hotel Amsterdam. Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jnnGDPmFFvoe9gA47

Doors will open at 5:30 PM.