The Old Masters Gallery in Kassel owns a small panel by an anonymous follower of Jheronimus Bosch which has attracted little attention so far. Due to its discolored varnish, old retouching and old cracks it was very difficult to appraise the painting. After a careful restoration funded by the “Uta und Karl Peters Kunststiftung” the panel is now for the first time on display in the Old Masters Gallery in Kassel and enriches the collection of early Netherlandish painting. The restoration will surely enable future research to locate this panel more precisely in the orbit of Bosch.
Follower of Jheronimus Bosch, Vision of Tondal, ca. 1530-40
Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Kassel
Legend of the Vision of Tondal
The medieval legend of the Vision of Tondal gained great popularity in the 15th and 16th century especially in early Netherlandish art. It describes the story of the wealthy and errant Irish knight Tondal, whose soul is taken for three days by a Guardian Angel on a journey through Hell and Paradise. After his return to earth Tondal vows to lead a more pious life.
Vision of Tondal in Museo Lázaro Galdiano
Last June, CODART members that attended the congress in Madrid were invited to an attribution session in Museo Lázaro Galdiano to examine a painting with the same subject. This Vision of Tondal was formerly attributed to a follower of Jheronimus Bosch. More about the attribution session in Madrid is available through this link.