Was Jheronimus Bosch insane?

Themes of intense anxiety and punishment are prominent in Bosch’s triptychs, with figures often depicted as distorted or unnatural. It raises questions about Jheronimus Bosch’s mental health. Psychiatrists once concluded that the painter suffered from persecutory anxieties, bordering on psychosis. Or could he have simply been expressing creative ideas with artistic originality? This study aims to address the dilemma by reviewing cases from professional literature, by applying criteria of neuroticism to Bosch, and by elaborating on the most relevant societal developments in the paintings. The conclusion does not support the theory that Bosch was mentally ill. It is more plausible that he was affected by past experiences -details of which remain unknown- and expressed these through his art.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Art and Art History
Published
2025-09-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15640/ijaah.v13p2
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Mental Health and Psychiatry
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
17.27
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article

Was Jheronimus Bosch insane?

Michel A.E. Vandenput
1 citations
International Journal of Art and Art History
Mental Health and Psychiatry
17.27
article

Was Jheronimus Bosch insane?

Michel A.E. Vandenput
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Themes of intense anxiety and punishment are prominent in Bosch’s triptychs, with figures often depicted as distorted or unnatural. It raises questions about Jheronimus Bosch’s mental health. Psychiatrists once concluded that the painter suffered from persecutory anxieties, bordering on psychosis. Or could he have simply been expressing creative ideas with artistic originality? This study aims to address the dilemma by reviewing cases from professional literature, by applying criteria of neuroticism to Bosch, and by elaborating on the most relevant societal developments in the paintings. The conclusion does not support the theory that Bosch was mentally ill. It is more plausible that he was affected by past experiences -details of which remain unknown- and expressed these through his art.

International Journal of Art and Art History
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Mental Health and Psychiatry
17.27
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