The “Allegory of Gluttony and Lust” is a work by the artist Hieronymus Bosch, created sometime between 1490 and 1500. This oil-on-panel painting measures 34.9 by 31.4 cm and belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement. With religious painting as its genre, it currently resides at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
The artwork depicts various scenes that together symbolize the vices of gluttony and lust. In the central foreground, a large naked figure lies atop a barrel, reaching out to a plate with a meat pie, while another individual behind the barrel appears to whisper or possibly seduce. Suspended from the top of the panel is a corpulent figure, possibly representing gluttony, riding the barrel and brandishing a tavern sign, indicative of excessive indulgence.
To the right, inside a draped structure, two figures are engaged in what seems to be a private or intimate exchange, likely alluding to the idea of lust. Various objects are scattered on the ground, including tableware and musical instruments, which might suggest the aftermath of a banquet or feast, further echoing the theme of gluttony. The whole composition is set in a green field, creating a contrast between the serenity of nature and the chaos of the human behavior depicted. Bosch’s detailed brushwork, vibrant colors, and symbolic imagery contribute to the moralistic and didactic character of his work.
