Although the weather here lately has been akin to autumn, it’s far from Halloween. So why would I post a series of articles of the ten scariest paintings of all time? Because scary is entertaining, and we always want to be entertained. I hope you agree on my choices and perhaps you, Dear Reader, can supply your own list in the comments section. Funny enough I could well have made a cutesy series of lovey-dovey paintings that would have lead right through Valentines Day. But what fun is that? Never been much of a romantic.
Fear is a strong emotion and as I always say, the best paintings reach deep into the viewer’s subconscious and strike a chord emotionally in one way or another. We let ourselves get scared for the thrill of it. We even pay to go on roller coasters and at Halloween we go through the haunted houses and hay rides, knowing full well they’re going to make us jump. Now without further ado, let’s get a little creeped out by some scary artwork.
Hieronymus Bosch’s “Adoration of the Magi”
Hieronymus Bosch had a skill very few other artists possessed then and now. His ability to transform intangible nightmarish visions into two dimensions is like no other. Very possibly these demons could have been real to him, perhaps manifesting themselves throughout his daily life. It would not surprise me if his contemporaries thought him crazy, to have a “rock in the head,” as they said.
Take this “Adoration of the Magi” (at the Philadelphia Museum of Art currently). Leave it to Bosch to take something serene and peaceful like the birth of Christ and turn it into a nightmare. Take a look at the painting. I mean really look at it. What is going on here?
Clearly we understand what the painting is about, the “adoration” of the newborn Baby Jesus held by his mother to accept gifts from the three kings. Of course this looks like some impoverished Flemish peasant town and the people look nothing like they would have in reality, but it seems every painter paints the Holy Family in their own likeness. For instance the mother and baby are as white as snow. She’s even a redhead.
Something else just doesn’t sit right with that baby. Doesn’t look real, does he? It’s downright terrifying in fact, the way he’s so tiny, like a premature birth; he must weigh one pound. Creepy.
The kings look normal enough, aside from them wearing the clothes of 16th century Dutch royalty. But the surrounding extras in the canvas get weirder and more interesting the further back you go. The spectators all lurk in the shadows away from view for fear of invading the family’s privacy or some other fear involved with witnessing the birth of a “god.” Aside from the kings, none of them crowd around as they do in other artists’ versions. The people actually inside the house should indicate friends or relatives but they keep back. Note the colors here, is the person’s face blue with a red nose?
It’s quite comical actually how the people hide themselves, particularly the fellow to the right, peeping his head through a hole in the wall, even though the edge is inches away. It almost looks as if he thinks he’s hidden. I can’t make heads or tails from the look on his face, so blank and emotionless. Going counter clockwise up, another man peers around the wall with a smile on his face, quite amused at seeing such a celebrity.
Then I’m not sure what the next man is doing. Note his mysterious posture, with arm hiding or defending his face. What is he doing? Further up we have the people climbing on top of the roof to catch a glimpse of the magi. This is where is gets spooky. I can’t express my horror looking at this person’s face. The character on the left seems to smile like the other man peering around the wall, only this time the face is very much akin to a skull. Look at the tiny face, with no eyes.
When we get to the background it’s all over. I’m finished, can’t even begin to explain it. Off to the right isn’t too bad, we have what looks to be soldiers or hunters letting their horses drink. But to the left, I’m lost. If somebody can explain this, please do so. It looks as if a crazed mob on horseback, or once again soldiers are pursuing somebody. It looks as if someone without clothes on is at the front of the crowd fleeing for his or her life. This is the adoration of the magi, Hieronymus, what is going on here?!
So what would have been an innocent birth of Jesus, is now a horrifying fright fest.
Now I’ll have nightmares about Christmas. Thanks, Bosch!
Leave a comment