Hieronymus Bosch – Death and the Miser National Gallery of Art (Washington)

The composition unfolds as a vertical narrative, dominated by a stark contrast between light and shadow that intensifies the scenes unsettling nature. A high, arched architectural space frames the action, drawing the eye upward while simultaneously creating a sense of enclosure. The upper portion is bathed in an amber glow emanating from unseen sources, highlighting a bed where a man lies seemingly lifeless. Above him, a skeletal figure, clearly representing Death, appears to be administering some form of final rite or perhaps hastening his demise with a cloth held to the man’s face. A small, impish creature perches on the canopy above, observing the scene with an ambiguous expression – mockery, perhaps, or simply detached curiosity.
Below this upper chamber, the focus shifts to a figure clad in green robes who is meticulously counting coins within a chest. His posture suggests intense concentration and avarice; his face is partially obscured, but the meticulousness of his actions speaks volumes about his character. The chest itself overflows with currency, spilling onto a table draped with white linen. Scattered around this table are discarded items – armor, a helmet, and what appears to be a spear – suggesting a life abandoned in pursuit of wealth.
A skeletal figure stands adjacent to the miser, its presence both immediate and threatening. It holds a small bell, seemingly poised to toll for the man’s death. The positioning of this figure reinforces the inevitability of mortality, regardless of earthly possessions or efforts to delay it. A swarm of insects crawls across the table, adding another layer of decay and corruption to the scene.
The paintings subtexts revolve around themes of greed, mortality, and spiritual consequence. The miser’s preoccupation with material wealth is presented as a futile endeavor in the face of death. His accumulation of riches has seemingly blinded him to the true value of life and the importance of spiritual preparation for the afterlife. The discarded armor symbolizes a neglected duty or perhaps a lost sense of honor sacrificed at the altar of avarice. The skeletal figure’s presence serves as a constant reminder that earthly possessions are transient, and death is an inescapable reality. The impish creature introduces an element of moral ambiguity, suggesting that even supernatural forces find amusement in human folly. Overall, the work offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism and the importance of confronting ones mortality with humility and spiritual awareness.