The Ship of Fools

Date: c.1500
Medium: oil on panel
Location: Louvre, Paris, France
Dimensions: 58 x 32

"Ship of Fools" is a painting by the Dutch Renaissance Hieronymus Bosch . Created around the year 1490, it is a triptych (three-panel artwork) and is currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting is also known as "The Conjurer."

The central panel depicts a ship sailing through a dark and tumultuous sea . The ship is overcrowded with a bizarre and diverse group of passengers. The passengers on the ship represent various aspects of human folly, vice, and ignorance. They engage in foolish and immoral behavior.

The left wing of the triptych shows a group of people entering the ship, symbolizing the beginning of their journey into folly. Among them are a nun, a monk, and a nun who has donned a mask. The right wing depicts the consequences of the passengers' foolish actions. The ship is sinking, and chaos ensues as people struggle in the water.

Hieronymus Bosch's work is known for its rich symbolism and moralistic themes. The ship is often interpreted as a metaphor for the world, with the passengers representing the foolishness of humanity. The various characters on board engage in activities that symbolize moral and spiritual corruption, reflecting Bosch's view of the sinful nature of mankind. The sinking ship in the right wing suggests the inevitable consequences of a life led astray. Bosch's "Ship of Fools" is a powerful allegory that explores the moral and ethical lapses of humanity. The artist's unique and fantastical imagery has made this painting a subject of fascination and interpretation for art historians and viewers alike.

Prevailing color of this fine art print is green and its shape is portrait. Original size is 58 x 32. This art piece is located in Louvre, Paris, France. This image is printed on demand - you can choose material, size and finishing.

Hieronymus Bosch (1450 -1516). Dutch painter whose real name is Jheronimus van Aken (his name is derived from the city s-Hertogenbosch). He came from a family of painters - his grandfather and uncles were all painters. Much of his work is devoted to sin and human moral failure. Bosch painted demons, half-human creatures, to evoke fear and unearth the evil hidden in man. He became famous mainly for his triptychs (the most famous is the Garden of Earthly Delights. He was the first who created and worked with the world of dreams, fantasy creatures, nightmares and fears, as a response to former medieval religious ideas (about deadly sins, a naturally sinful humanity, hell and eternal damnation).