THE TABLEPOT OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
The Table of the Seven Deadly Sins
HIERONYMUS VAN AEKEN BOSCH,
"EL BOSCO"(1450-1516)
Wood (120x150 cm)
Flemish school. Gothic
15th century
Hall 57a
This work belonged to Philip II and, as was the case with all the Bosch works the king enjoyed collecting, it was kept at El Escorial. From there it was transferred to the Prado during the Spanish Civil War along with other paintings whose safety was thought to be in jeopardy given the nature of the fighting in the mountains north of Madrid. Following the war, it simply remained at the Prado. It consists of four small circles surrounding a larger one that is divided into different scenes. In the corners Bosch depicts the four stages of man: Death, Judgement, Hell and Heaven. The central circle forms a large eye in whose center appears the figure of the risen Christ and the Latin inscription "Cave, cave, dominus videt" (Beware, beware, God sees you). Around the small circle, which might be described as the eye's pupil. are scenes alluding to the seven capital sins: Anger, Pride, Lust,
