BOSCH, Hieronymus
(b. ca. 1450, 's-Hertogenbosch, d. 1516, 's-Hertogenbosch)

Triptych of Garden of Earthly Delights (detail)

c. 1500
Oil on panel
Museo del Prado, Madrid

The picture shows a detail of the central panel, representing the Bridal Chamber in Pumpkin (after Fraenger).

Along with the fairly obvious representations, however, the carnal life is also alluded to in metaphorical or symbolic terms. The strawberries which figure so prominently in the landscape, for instance, probably symbolize the unsubstantial quality of fleshly pleasure.