Added to portraits to indicate the sagacity of the subject, owls were dear to the heart and brush of Hieronymus Bosch.
owl
Symbols of the night, and through association with Athena/Minerva, for wisdom and learning. Owls in paintings to William Blake.
To mark the 500th anniversary of his memorial service, a collection of his unique owls.
Examining and explaining some of the intriguing details of this masterpiece. Does it make any sense?
Why are owls associated with wisdom and learning? Do they have more sinister meanings? Was Bosch that keen on owls?
What do Bosch’s many owls signify? Wisdom, night, or something more sinister?
The Eclectic Light Company 