“Death and the Miser (detail)” is a religious painting crafted by Hieronymus Bosch, dated approximately between 1494 and 1516. This artwork belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and is part of the “Death and the Miser” series. This particular piece is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, USA.
The artwork vividly portrays a scene set in a dimly lit interior with prominent red drapery. At the center, a skeletal figure reminiscent of Death invades the somber atmosphere, aiming an arrow at the ill-fated miser who lies vulnerably in bed. The miser, depicted with an emaciated face, appears to be in a state of despair and surrender. An angel hovers near, seemingly offering spiritual comfort or urging the miser to reconsider his earthly attachments. A poignant detail is the opening at the bottom of the bed, where a demon-like creature presents a bag of money, tempting the miser even at his final moments. This grim tableau dramatizes the conflict between spiritual salvation and material greed, capturing the theological themes prevalent in Bosch’s works.
