TheOldMastersPrintsThe Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch: meaning, location and key facts
The Garden of Earthly Delights is an oil on panel by Hieronymus Bosch, painted between about 1490 and 1510. It measures 205.5 × 390 cm and is held at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
Key facts
| Artist | Hieronymus Bosch |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1490–1510 |
| Medium | Oil on panel |
| Dimensions | 205.5 × 390 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
| Style | Early Netherlandish painting |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q321303) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
It is a triptych. The left panel shows Paradise, with God presenting Eve to Adam. The central panel, a vast garden full of naked figures, giant fruit, birds and fantastic fountains, is usually read as humanity given over to pleasure. The right panel is a hell of musical instruments, fire and punishments.
When closed, the shutters show the creation of the world in grisaille, as a transparent sphere. Bosch painted it around 1490-1510 and its exact meaning is still debated; the moralising reading is the most widely accepted.
Did you know?
- Philip II of Spain acquired it and in 1593 sent it to El Escorial, where inventories described it as “the variety of the world”.
- In the hell panel there is a musical score painted on a sinner’s buttocks; in 2014 it was transcribed and recorded.
- The title “Garden of Earthly Delights” is modern and does not appear in early documents.
Where to see the original
The Garden of Earthly Delights is at the Museo del Prado, Madrid. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Garden of Earthly Delights?
- The original is held at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
- How big is The Garden of Earthly Delights?
- The original painting measures 205.5 × 390 cm (height × width).
- Who painted The Garden of Earthly Delights and when?
- It was painted by Hieronymus Bosch between about 1490 and 1510.
- Can I hang a reproduction of The Garden of Earthly Delights at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €65.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
