Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary follows the journey of various Bosch works on their way to an exhibition at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Holland, while discussing the life and works of the Dutch artist. The documentary begins at the Doges Palace in Venice, Italy, where the viewer witnesses the meticulous work of curators and museum technicians as they prepare Bosch’s four panels of “Paradise and Hell” for travel by sea and air (remember Venice is surrounded by water). Narration discusses Bosch’s perceptions and inspirations, his standing in the community during his life, and how he helped create the unique genre of “impasto” painting. The larger Bosch triptychs, on permanent display at the El Prado Museum Fine Art in Madrid, Spain, are filmed to show at the Rotterdam exhibition, because the fragile nature of the works renders them too delicate to be transported. The collection at Madrid includes “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” which represents many interpretations, but one that is most apparent is the freedom to dream. Numerous works by Bosch appear in the DVD, including “Ecce Homo,” “The Temptation of Saint Anthony,” “The Haywain,” “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” and “The Conjurer.” Some interviews are in French with English subtitles. This video is appropriate for art history collections that focus on the Northern Renaissance. Hieronymus Bosch: The Delights of Hell is highly recommended.