Death and the Miser
c. 1485-1490
Hieronymus Bosch serves up a grim moral lesson in this vertical panel, showing a miser on his deathbed who simply cannot let go of his cash. Even as the Grim Reaper barges through the door with an arrow ready, and an angel points toward a sliver of heavenly light, the dying man is torn—reaching for a bag of gold offered by a sneaky demon while clutching a rosary. It's a classic 'Ars Moriendi' scene, warning viewers that greed follows you to the grave, complete with creepy critters crawling out from under his money chest and discarded armor lying forgotten on the floor.
- Technique
- Oil on panel
- Material
- Wood
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
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