Ascension of the Blessed
The world depicted by Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch painter active during the Renaissance, is unusual and full of surprises.
The striking contrast between the pink textiles and the vivid blue sky that appear in many of her works is striking. Fantasy creatures roam the edges of her paintings, people are depicted in exaggerated forms, and still lifes sometimes appear on a gigantic scale.
Bosch, a devout Christian, mostly portrays Christianity as a theme in his works. He depicts the sublimity of God's teachings and the foolishness of humans in a sudden and fluid manner, like a dream world.
If you think about it, he was a painter from the same era as Leonardo da Vinci, and the individuality of his world becomes even more apparent.
Unlike the Italian Renaissance, which pursued more realistic, detailed, and vivid expression, Bosch's works have a vivid fantasy and humorous melancholy and drowsiness that inherited the ideas of medieval miniature painting.
The Ascension of the Blessed, 1505-1515
As the title suggests, the story depicts a person blessed by God trying to reach heaven with the guidance of an angel.
The most striking feature is the tunnel of light that "appears" in the sky. The three people standing at the entrance to heaven are depicted vaguely, indicating the dazzling light.
There are no mysterious creatures, no snarling villains, only a light of perfect goodness. The soon-to-be ascenders lose their genitals and gaze upon the light in wonder. Angels with bright wings guide the blessed to heaven.
As a Christian painter, Bosch expressed the religious world while at the same time portraying the vulgarity of humankind with a humorous attitude, so his depiction of heaven seems very gentle. And perhaps this is precisely his praise of the sublimeness of reaching heaven.
What lies beyond the light that appears against the black background, and what is the gaze of the person who arrives there? Bosch has created an impressive depiction of an experience that goes beyond people's imagination.
Interestingly, this painting coincides with the accounts of people who have actually experienced so-called "near-death experiences." Being guided by someone through a tunnel and then being enveloped in light is a typical pattern of near-death experiences.
Others have sought to trace the origins of his artistic world to Christian heresy or mysticism. Indeed, the astonishment felt by this fantastical world gradually culminates in an appreciation experience that seems to trace the truth from a transcendental attitude. It is understandable that some believe there may be some unsolved mystery there.
In any case, it is true that the appeal of these works that continues to attract people is what brings salvation to us.