Explore the abstract of this artwork.
The Hermit Saints is a religious oil on panel painting displayed as a triptych, meaning it is one whole painting composed of three separate scenes. This artwork was made by the Renaissance artist Hieronymus Bosch, dating from 1493. The entirety of the triptych painting measures 86 by 60 centimetres (34 in × 24 in). This artwork is currently being housed at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice.
Saints are a common theme in Bosch's artwork; for him, they are a reference to the living and also to suffering against what was considered sinful. Likewise, there is often the portrayal of brutality and agony that far outweighs the beauty in Bosch's work since he uses saints as a moral paradigm of the artist's time. He represents them as those who are most faithful in their beliefs.Within this triptych the viewer is introduced to three hermit saints depicted in separate lands of the heavenly and hellish manifestations of mankind's sin and moral obligations. The hermit saints are a reference to the life of solitude and devotion to their faith and practice of the religion Christianity. Each panel is rich with symbolic imagery that gives insight into the frame of mind of each saint's devotion and empathy towards Christ through iconography and symbolism.
symbolism hell iconography Renaissance Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice Christianity Hieronymus Bosch Christ Gallerie dell'Accademia Venice Renaissance art triptych