A marvelous art book that reveals the unknown face of the Renaissance and the craze for monsters
Hieronymous Bosch is known throughout the world as a painter of monstrous creatures and fantastic scenes that seem the output of dreamlike visions. His fame did not begin in the Netherlands, where the artist was born, but in 16th-century southern Europe, which was artistically dominated by themes and styles typical of Renaissance classicism, very far from those of the Flemish painter.
This book, in addition to presenting Bosch, aims to illustrate the success of his art in the high societies of Italy, Spain, and the Americas in the period between the 16th and early 17th centuries, with particular reference to the collecting trends of the time in these two countries, where the works of Bosch and his followers were in great demand (by the Spanish Habsburgs, the Grimani in Venice, etc.). These works, in turn, inspired a large number of painters, draftsmen, engravers, and other prominent artists, including his successor, the much-renowned Bruegel the Elder.
The book thus sheds new and surprising light on a particular “Renaissance” that has always remained in the shadows compared to the classicism of Raphael, Titian, and Parmigianino, but which had actually a strong artistic and cultural impact in various parts of Europe, with often grotesque or “anticlassical” expressions such as the cycle of tapestries by Bosch at the Escorial, the paintings by masters such as Titian and El Greco, the works of engravers such as Giorgio Ghisi, and sculptors and decorators such as Bernardo Buontalenti, and finally, the culture of the Wunderkammer.
A groundbreaking, richly illustrated art history volume that rewrites the conventional narrative of the Renaissance by focusing on the era's dark, surreal, and monstrous imagination.
When we think of the Renaissance, we recall harmony, humanism, and classical perfection. But what about the nightmares?
This essential book dives deep into the unsettling, fantastic world of Hieronymus Bosch-the enigmatic master of monsters-and argues that his dark vision was not an anomaly, but a vital, vibrant thread running through the art and culture of the 16th century.
This is a must-have volume for art historians, students of the grotesque, and anyone who appreciates the dark, complex, and beautiful side of historical art. It is the definitive guide to understanding the other Renaissance-the one defined by devils, demons, and dreams.
The Unseen Renaissance:
- Beyond the Ideal: Explore how artists across Europe-including contemporaries of Raphael and Michelangelo-were captivated by the grotesque, the satirical, and the terrifying, often using monsters and strange creatures to express moral, social, and political anxieties.
- Bosch's Enduring Legacy: Analyze the profound influence of Bosch's apocalyptic visions and nightmarish hellscapes, particularly The Garden of Earthly Delights, on subsequent generations of painters, printmakers, and artisans.
- The Power of the Print: Discover the crucial role of printmaking in spreading these fantastic images-from demonic folklore to fantastical hybrids-to a wider audience than ever before, capturing the popular imagination for centuries.
- A New Context for the Grotesque: The book draws on theology, folklore, and emerging science to place these visual horrors in their proper historical and intellectual context, revealing why these creatures held such fascination for the minds of the period.
