Hieronymus Bosch (October 1453 - August 1516) is the most famous ‘Bosschenaar’ (person from ‘s-Hertogenbosch) of all time.

He was given the name Jeroen van Aecken at birth, but few know him by this name. Jeroen Bosch (as he is known by locals) probably changed his original surname to distance himself from his family.

In the Renaissance, not only one’s work was judged, but also one’s family and Bosch came from a family of artists.

Another theory for the change of last name is that he wished to show off his place of birth. ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the time of Hieronymus Bosch had about 20,000 inhabitants (now 140,000) and was considered to be quite a large town.

Artistically speaking, however, the town was a desert. It's, therefore, surprising that such an incredibly gifted painter managed to develop his talents in the rather provincial artistic backwater.
Unlike many other popular artists, Bosch was famous in his own time.

When he was 47 years old, his paintings were already world renowned. Many wealthy nobles, including the Spanish king, Philip the Handsome, commissioned works of art from him. Bosch grew up in turbulent times when there was a great fear of the devil and all things evil. They were times filled with many contagious diseases like the plague and lots of people believed, perhaps like today, that the end of the world was nigh. Painters in the late Middle Ages had to live off their assignments.

Therefore, the creativity of many painters was restricted to precise copies of religious themes.
Flouting convention, Hieronymus Bosch took the liberty to paint his own, original ideas.

With his potent imagination he pictured the oppressive atmosphere that was preached from the pulpit and which lingered in people's minds. Naturally, he was lightyears ahead of his contemporaries. Contrary to the serene work of other painters of his day, the fantastic works of Bosch illustrate fear, horror, sin and misfortune.

An important event that undoubtedly shaped his works was the enormous town fire, which reduced half of the city to ashes in 1463, when little Jeroen was only ten years old. Fortunately, his natural talent made his new style possible.
The pessimistic Bosch was extremely religious and his work is full of religious symbolism. Although he was a Catholic, he often mocked the celibacy of the lower clergy. In some paintings he even pokes fun at some of the popes of his age. But his biggest fear was of mankind itself. The first things that many people notice in his works are the surreal and atrocious creatures.
Today, 25 paintings and 8 drawings known to have been created by him are in existence, even though a scant few are actually signed with his name, Hieronymus Bosch.

Bosch was a true lone wolf. He did not belong to any groups and he developed his own paintings and style. His works have greatly influenced other artists. Bosch remained loyal to the town of his birth and even his funeral took place in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in St. John’s Cathedral.

The works of this passionate man are exhibited in various museums all over the globe and his most famous triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights can be viewed in the Prado in Madrid. If you would like to know more about Hieronymus Bosch, visit the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
In 2016, ‘s-Hertogenbosch will commemorate the 500th year since the death of Hieronymus Bosch. That year will be the culmination of the Hieronymus Bosch 500 cultural programme. The programme will offer an opportunity for artists, filmmakers, residents, design students, dancers, musicians, art historians and cultural establishments to gain inspiration via the creativity of the Netherlands' most important painter of the Middle Ages.

The local government has contributed €8million to ensure that the programme runs smoothly and achieves its objectives.