Edgar Allan Poe once said, “There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion” and this certainly applies to many of the world’s finest works of art. Their magic lies in the degree of oddness they exude; the symbolism and the mystery. However, there are also certain masterpieces that can be difficult to wrap our head around. Some of these might seem normal at first glance, but upon a much closer look would leave you scratching your head and wondering about the inspiration behind it.
With that in mind, we have curated ten of the world’s most bizarre paintings and the story behind them.
The Garden of Earthly Delights – Hieronymus Bosch
Let’s start with Hieronymous Bosch’s famous triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights. It opens up like a book and is made up of three panels, with the outer panel (the cover) depicting the Creation of the World. To his credit, what’s hidden inside is a feast for the viewer’s eyes. Scan the left and center panels, and you’ll feel as if you’re traveling through the Garden of Eden. It features all sorts of creatures, such as a swan-lion hybrid looking down upon humans engaging in surreal activities.
As you continue to the right panel, things get much darker, and we are shown Bosch’s version of Hell. It is frightening, to say the least, and quite a jarring change from the idyllic first half of this art piece. If you’re fond of looking for symbolism in art, this one will have you entranced for hours!
Magdalena Ventura with Her Husband and Son – Jusepe de Ribera
Will you ever consider putting investment money in this next painting? Next, we have Jusepe de Ribera’s portrait of a husband and wife, together with their child. No, the artist did not make a mistake with this one. Depicted in this piece is none other than Magdalena Ventura, also known as the Bearded Woman of Abruzzi. She was not a big fan of the Renaissance’s beauty ideals and took it upon herself to set her own standard. As you might have guessed, her appearance made her quite infamous.
This painting was commissioned by the Viceroy of Naples, who was completely fascinated by her work.
The Ugly Duchess – Quinten Massys
It’s the face that launched a thousand memes. Kidding aside, our next portrait left scholars more than a degree baffled for decades. Was it a satirical piece? Perhaps, it was commissioned to mock someone from nobility? She was painted donning rich garments, which is typical of someone from the upper class, though the style had long been out of fashion given the time this was painted. Much like the Mona Lisa, doesn’t it make you wonder what her secret is?
With some help from science, we now know that this isn’t a mockery of anyone. Instead, it’s a portrait of a woman who had Paget’s disease. This illness deforms the bones, which is why her features have been exaggerated in this manner.
Study After Velazquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X – Francis Bacon
We just might leave this one on the flooring instead of hanging it up. This shrieking image of Pope Innocent X is a product of Francis Bacon’s work during the 1950s when he made the radical shift from painting all manner of fantastical beasts to creating some really unique portraits. The original Diego Velazquez piece was more serene and dignified in nature, but we’d like to argue that the unsettling nature of Bacon’s rendition makes it far more memorable.
As terrifying as it is to look at, you’ll also find yourself unable to turn away from the figure’s silent scream.
Medusa – Caravaggio
Here’s another truly disturbing painting that’s bound to send electricity coursing down your spine. The gorgon Medusa remains one of the most frightening creatures in Greek mythology. In Caravaggio’s painting of her, she is depicted at the very moment she was defeated by Perseus. The look of sheer terror in her eyes feels accusatory, as if she’s blaming you for her demise. This isn’t the only Caravaggio artwork that will leave you with a feeling of unease, however.
The master painter’s use of the chiaroscuro can make even the most benign of paintings appear ghostly. It certainly doesn’t help that many of his work features moments of struggle and violence, which isn’t recommended for the faint-hearted.
If you were able, which painting would you consider making investments in? The beauty of art is that it can be interpreted in many different ways from one person to another. What might seem grotesque to one person, could be a thing of beauty for another. In this case, however, we can all agree that these strange paintings create a feeling of discomfort.
Sources:
Cover- combination of all three photos
Body 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBG621XEegk
Body 2 – WikiCommons
Body 3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waUS7SCqRCY
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