Watch Hieronymus Bosch, Touched By The Devil

Hieronymus Bosch, Touched By The Devil is a fascinating documentary film that explores the life and works of one of the most enigmatic and celebrated painters in art history – Hieronymus Bosch. The film opens with a glimpse into the world of Bosch's fantastical paintings, which are both weirdly grotesque and wonderfully sublime. By featuring insightful interviews with Mathijs Ilsink and Peter Klein, who are curators of the Noordbrabants Museum in the Netherlands, the audience gets a rare glimpse into the mind of the artist and the process of restoring his works.

The film takes viewers on a journey through the unique and intricate world of Bosch's paintings, exploring their imagery and symbolism using both modern technology and art historical scholarship. Notably, the film showcases more than 20 paintings from the artist including the awe-inspiring ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’.

The film brilliantly details the restoration of arguably Bosch's most famous painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights. The restoration, which took a team of experts seven months to complete, involved every inch of the painting carefully scrubbed and studied to reveal the original colors and detail of the painting.

Throughout the film, we are shown previously unseen drawings and sketches by Bosch that reveal his intricate and nuanced creative process. The film also features interviews with renowned scholars and experts familiar with the art of Bosch, including esteemed Bosch biographer Jos Koldeweij, who offer detailed insights on the painter’s life and legacy.

Following the story of The Garden of Earthly Delights’ restoration, the film also explores the controversy surrounding Bosch's work. Bosch’s paintings often elicited a strong reaction from his contemporaries while the art world of his time regarded him quite differently from how he is regarded today. The film looks into theories about the meaning behind Bosch’s work, trying to unravel the mystery and reveal some of the hidden messages inside it.

Hieronymus Bosch, Touched By The Devil is a restrained and thought-provoking documentary that offers an opportunity for art lovers and people generally curious about art to get up close and personal with the work of one of the most extraordinary painters in history. The film tells the story of Bosch's genius in a way that is both engaging and informative while honoring his unique and unsettling vision.

The film ends with a close look at a self-portrait that Bosch made late in his life, that featured his head resting on a pillow, staring out from a dark, mysterious background. It's a haunting and unforgettable image, which speaks to the profound mystery and complexity of the artist's work and life.

In conclusion, Hieronymus Bosch, Touched By The Devil is a must-watch for art enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in delving into new areas of art history. It’s a film that will undoubtedly inspire curiosity about the Dutch master's extraordinary work while leaving viewers amazed by his incredible craftsmanship and boundless imagination. The film gives viewers a glimpse into the unconventional mind of an artist unbound by conventionality and an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and intricacy of his work.

Hieronymus Bosch, Touched By The Devil is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 64.