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Unknown17th C representation the Roof of Folly: An Allegory of the Fall, German School-
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$17,751.48
£13,265.18
€15,000
CA$24,718.05
A$26,562.14
CHF 14,252.13
MX$312,885.80
NOK 179,204.73
SEK 163,702.37
DKK 114,346.15
About the Item
« The Roof of Folly: An Allegory of the Fall »
This enigmatic 17th-century painting, laden with symbolic content, echoes the allegorical tradition of Hieronymus Bosch, fusing grotesque imagery with theological satire. Human and avian forms intermingle within a visionary, dreamlike landscape marked by spiritual tension and uncanny beauty.
At the heart of this dark allegory, a crumbling rooftop serves as a stage for human folly and spiritual neglect. A central figure — a fiddler garbed as a jester — plays a tune of distraction as the world deteriorates beneath him. Surrounding him are distorted figures: a bird-headed demon whispers temptations, a silent monk embodies passive complicity, and a child imitates the foolhardiness of his elders. Overhead, a black-winged angel watches in silence, evoking divine judgment or perhaps lost innocence. Below, an elderly woman ascends through the wreckage, bearing a candle — a solitary seeker of truth in a world steeped in shadow.
Though unsigned, the painting’s precise characterizations and densely layered symbolism suggest a didactic intention — a visual sermon warning against spiritual complacency amid societal upheaval.
In the tradition of Bosch and Pieter Bruegel, this work confronts the viewer with a sobering question: in a world enthralled by spectacle and decay, who among us still strives toward the light? 17th-century German painting brings to life fantastical human creatures with bird-like traits—an eerie, whimsical nod to the surreal genius of Hieronymus Bosch.
Human and avian forms merge in a dreamlike, allegorical scene, channeling Bosch’s visionary world of spiritual tension and strange beauty.
- Creation Year:-
- Dimensions:Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 25.6 in (65 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:brussel, BE
- Reference Number:Seller: 120101stDibs: LU1509217477452
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