The fantastic worlds peopled by devils that the Early Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch (d. 1516) created have often been ‘explained’ as the work of a visionary, a heretic, or even a hallucinating madman. Yet to his contemporaries Bosch was a gifted artist who received prestigious commissions and whose work inspired many: it was even avidly collected by that most Catholic of kings, Phillip II of Spain. This lecture will look at Bosch’s art within its historical and cultural context in order to gain a better understanding of this intriguing artist whose work will always fascinate us.

About the Lecturer

Sophie Oosterwijk. Born in Gouda (Netherlands). Has an MA and PhD in English Literature (Leiden), an MA in Medieval Studies (York) and a PhD in Art History (Leicester). Has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Leicester and Manchester, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, National Trust, V&A, U3A, WEA and other organisations, and organised many study days, tours and visits. Also a regular lecturer for Cambridge University and travel companies, and Honorary Research Fellow with the School of Art History at the University of St Andrews. Numerous publications