6 fascinating secrets hidden in the works of art of the great masters of the past

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Today the creators of computer games, films and television shows consider it their duty to "hide" so-called "Easter eggs" in their offspring. But in fact, this tradition is already more than one hundred years old. Even in the distant past, artists used hidden images in their paintings, either as jokes, or as an insult, or for some other reason. In our review, there are well-known paintings that were not without "surprises".

1. Hieronymus Bosch - notes on the buttocks

The Dutchman Hieronymus Bosch wrote his famous "Garden of Earthly Delights" in 1490-1510. The three panels of the epic triptych depict the Garden of Eden, heaven and hell. The triptych is literally overflowing with symbolism and veiled reflections on human nature and morality.

If you take a closer look, it's easy to see that Bosch often depicted human buttocks. Moreover, quite unexpected objects often stick out of them. For example, a cursed soul that climbs a ladder has an arrow sticking out of the fifth point.

At first glance, you might think that this is just one of the punishments in Hell. But on the panel depicting heaven, you can also find an image of a person with a bouquet of flowers sticking out of the fifth point.

And the most impressive backside in The Garden of Earthly Delights can also be found on the Hell panel - it depicts the notes, as well as the long tongue of a demon with pink skin stretches to it.

A flute is sticking out of one more "musical" backside.

To finish the story about Bosch's triptych is worth the fact that the music, the notes of which can be found on the fifth point of the sinner, can even be heard - the melody on these notes was written by the former monk Gregorio Paniagua.

2. Da Vinci - a hidden selfie, which was found only 500 years later

It is known that the genius artist of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, did not like to draw himself very much. There is only one confirmed self-portrait of da Vinci: a drawing of a sanguine from 1512, which, according to legend, gives strength to those who look at it. During World War II, this self-portrait was taken out of Turin and hidden, because they feared that Hitler would get superpowers with him. Today, scholars suggest that there may be so few self-portraits of da Vinci, because the great master put them in hiding places.

In 2009, the art world was shocked by the news: another self-portrait of da Vinci was discovered. It was hidden in one of his many scientific works, The Code of the Flight of Birds. The portrait was so cleverly hidden that it went unnoticed for 500 years, until an attentive Italian journalist noticed something that looked like a nose between the lines.

It was the face of a young Leonardo that no one had ever seen before. It took a lot of expertise to establish whether this was indeed a portrait of da Vinci.

3. Caravaggio encrypted the apology in his famous painting

The 17th century Italian master Caravaggio was a very talented artist, but he was also an extremely difficult and cruel man. After several years of fame, he was forced to flee Milan as the Pope sentenced him to death for the murder of a pimp. Caravaggio fled to Malta, where he soon found himself again at the epicenter of a scandal and was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to the knight.

Shortly before his death at the age of only 38 years (the reasons for this are different: some argue that the artist died of a fever, while others insist on "mysterious circumstances"), Caravaggio tried to atone for his sins by writing one of his greatest masterpieces "David with his head Goliath "and donating it to the papal court.

It turns out that the severed head of Goliath in the painting is a portrait of Caravaggio himself. Thus, he expressed remorse for his actions.

4. Dead babies in the painting "The Beating of Babies" by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, which depicts a 16th century winter village, where Spanish and German soldiers rampage, is distinguished by great detail and elements of absurdity. This painting is Bruegel's protest against the brutal Spanish occupation of the Netherlands.

Upon closer examination of the picture, it is easy to notice that the piles of trophies captured by the soldiers - chickens, cattle, jugs - cast mysterious shadows. During the restoration of the painting, it turned out that these shadows are actually babies, which were originally painted by Bruegel, and then painted over.

5. Shadow of Monica in the portrait

When it comes to the presidency of Bill Clinton, they immediately recall his affair with Monica Lewinsky, which left a stain on his career. The Lewinsky scandal has become the subject of countless articles and political cartoons. There is a hidden hint of this connection even in the portrait of the American president, which was painted by Nelson Shanks. The artist admitted that he captured the shadow of Monica Lewinsky in the portrait of Clinton, which is currently in the US National Portrait Gallery.

6. Hidden images of Halley's comet

For much of human history, comets were considered a bad omen. It was believed that in this way, God expresses his anger. Halley's comet is no exception. Since she appeared in the sky every 76 years, this often coincided with massive fear and repentance.

Kings and peasants prayed to the comet, asking her for good health, a bountiful harvest and children. Halley's comet can be found in many paintings. Moreover, the image of the comet can be found in books, jewelry, and even textbooks.

Another great addition to this list will be 10 Easter eggs hidden in famous works of art.