2009

Oil on Copper

cm 67 x cm 35

The painting is my own re-interpretation of the subject of a painting by Heironymous Bosch (c.1500). The allegory depicts a vessel populated by human inhabitants who are deranged, frivolous, or oblivious, passengers aboard a ship without a pilot, and seemingly ignorant of their own direction. The words inscribed on the piece of wood come from the Des Knaben Wunderhorn collection of German verse and read 'Der Mensch liegt in grosster Pein' ; 'Mankind lies in greatest pain'. It was also used by Gustav Mahler in his second symphony.