ship of fools (after Hieronymus Bosch)

102x102cm / 40×40” acrylic on wood panel, 2026

ship of fools was inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s Ship of Fools, c. 1490-1500. This was a panel from a triptych (since cut up) depicting the sin of gluttony, which was from a larger body of work relating to the seven deadly sins. It is believed Bosch was inspired by the title page of Sebastian Brandt’s satirical book Ship of Fools from 1494, which was a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer.

During this period, the ship of fools was an oft repeated subject that typically showed a crowded ship with men wearing jester costumes and animal-esque hats engaged in drinking, cavorting, & quarreling. However, the first mention of the ship of fools was an allegory of a dysfunctional ship crew in Plato’s Republic where the phrase was used to represent the problems of governance by those without expert knowledge – a ship that may be still sailing.

PMD 2026