Heaven and hell have always haunted the imagination of mankind. Let's take a look at one of these visions.

The Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych painting created by the Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch in the early 16th century. The painting is known for its vivid and bizarre depictions of fantastical creatures, surreal landscapes, and scenes of human indulgence and temptation.

Hieronymus Bosch descended from a family of well-known artists from the Netherlands and created three large triptychs, three-part altarpieces, in his time.

This particular triptych features three panels, each depicting a different scene. The left panel shows the Garden of Eden, the central panel shows a surreal landscape filled with human figures engaged in various acts of pleasure and excess, and the right panel shows a vision of Hell.

The depiction of hell contrasts with the other two panels, all beauty is drained from this panel, darkness reigns, the figures are naked and bashful, the city in the background is burning and in ruins. The "tree man" is populated by demons. These demonic beings are partly punishing their victims brutally and mercilessly.

Bosch's painting has been the subject of much interpretation and speculation over the years, with some seeing it as a warning against the dangers of indulgence and hedonism, while others view it as a celebration of human desire and sexuality.

The painting's intricate details and strange imagery have made it a popular subject of study and fascination for art historians, and it remains one of the most famous and enduring works of the Northern Renaissance.

The triptych can be viewed at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

What is your favourite depiction of heaven and hell and where can it be seen?