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Written & Photographed by Kenn Sava

“Where your treasure is,
There will your heart be also.”*

As if I don’t have enough books, or enough books by Gary Schwartz (4, now 5), the release of his newest book is a cause for celebration around here. It’s as big a deal for me as the release of a new Harry Potter book is for the rest of the world. Mr. Schwartz’ new book is filled with more magic, sorcery, lost knowledge, and mystery than all the Potter books combined! Not to mention some of the greatest Art in the Western World.

The waiting line will be a lot shorter for this one.

It’s subject is no less than Jheronimus Bosch, the birth name of the Artist better known as Hieronymus Bosch, one of the most mystical, unique and elusive Artists in Western Art. If anyone can track him down, my money is on Gary Schwartz. Track him down he does, going into extraordinary detail on his life, works and times, discussing each and every work in his inimitable way that almost no other Art Historian has- he gives you the technical details along with the humanity like he’s talking to “regular people,” and not a doctoral class in Art History. I marvel at his ability to do so. THIS is how Art should be taught, explained and passed on, IMHO.

I’ll sum up this book in 3 words- “Bravo, and Hallejulah!” Bravo for (another) classic & essential Art monograph, and Hallejulah we got another one by Gary Schwartz!

Given that this past week (August 9) marked the 500th Anniversary of his death, it’s already been a big year for Bosch. A show that I’m sorry I missed commemorated the anniversary in his former home town, Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands, then there was the release of the Bosch Catalogue Raisonne (and related Technical Studies) by the Bosch Research & Conservation Project (BRCP), 5+ years in the making, geared to establishing once and for all, which works the Master actually did create, and which he didn’t. Given all this hoopla, the timing of Mr. Schwartz’ newest book, “Jheronimus Bosch: The Road to Heaven and Hell,” couldn’t be more auspicious. It’s release seemingly makes it go head to head with the BRCP’s 2 books.

But, showing the true colors of his collegial spirit, Mr. Schwartz wrote the very first review posted on Amazon of the Bosch Catalog Raisonne, giving it 5 stars, saying both BRCP books were “Raising the bar.” Check it out. It may be the best review I’ve ever read on Amazon.

Gary Schwartz is the same man who had the audacity to write a book called “The Rembrandt Book” in 2006. There are, possibly, as many books devoted to Rembrandt as any other Artist in history. Was he saying, “Forget all of them, this is THE Rembrandt Book?” I wondered. Now? If I had to choose one Rembrandt book to take with me? That would it. And, I now actually call it “THE Rembrandt Book,” even though it was no less than his second full length monograph on the Dutch Master, following “Rembrandt – His Life, His Paintings,” from 1985. When I first looked them over side by side, my jaw hit the floor of The Strand. What most amazed me is that they were written 20 years apart, and they are completely different! Whoa. How much does he know about Rembrandt? I consider them both essential for Rembrandt lovers.

Essential, and sadly out of print. The Strand is asking 95.00 for a copy like mine, above. If you look hard, you can find a decent one for 30. online.

Now? He’s done it again. 19 years after releasing a 92 page book, called “First Impressions: Hieronymus Bosch” (1997), which as it’s title hints, is a fine introduction to Bosch,

Released in 1997, now out of print. A great introduction to Bosch. I got mine for 9. at The Strand late last year.

“Jheronimus Bosch: The Road to Heaven and Helll” is a “The Rembrandt Book”-style monograph on Bosch. To my way of thinking it’s as close to “definitive” as we may be likely to see for some time, with all due respect to the BRCP’s Catalog Raisonne (which is for specialists, and while focused on the works in unprecedented depth using ground breaking techniques, doesn’t tie the work in with the biographical depth Mr. Schwartz does. Translation- I’m not a Bosch specialist.). Mr. Schwartz has an almost magical way of unearthing details about Artists that lived all these hundreds of years ago, and sifting through the existing documentation with knowing eyes that you just don’t get in other books. (He does include some of the BRCP’s findings, though it appears their work wasn’t completed while he was writing his.) Besides, there are so few works by Bosch, whoever’s word you take for it, that I know I’m not going to miss any either way.

I’ve come to trust Gary Schwartz when it comes to the “last word” on an artist. Mr. Schwartz has earned my trust, the hard way-with Rembrandt. But you don’t have to take my word for it- Simon Schama, of the superb Art Documentaries “Simon Schama’s Power of Art,” Art Historian & Professor of Art History at Columbia University, co-dedicated his excellent Rembrandt Biography, “Rembrandt’s Eyes,” to Gary Schwartz. After reading Mr. Schwartz’ Rembrandt books, which, coincidentally, came about during the work of another Research organization, the Rembrandt Research Project (RRP), who were also endeavoring to compile a verified canon of authentic works, and reading his assessment of their findings, I found myself in agreement with Mr. Schwartz on contested works like the Frick Collection’s “Polish Rider,” and others. I now trust his judgement about what’s what- no small thing when the world’s supreme experts are so vociferously at odds over things like what’s a real Bosch, or Rembrandt, and which isn’t. Hundreds of millions of dollars ride on the outcome of those arguments, not to mention the pride of the Museums home to these works. But? It’s not my money. (Phew.) I only care about learning about the Artist, trying to get a feel for his style and work and see if I can spot it in all these discussions, and how the work fits in with his life story. My guess is that Mr Schwartz appears to share similar motivations- he wants the truth. He’s not bashful about (respectfully) going against other experts if his research bears it out. He trusts himself- his own mind, and of course, a lifetime of research, experience and incomparable expertise.

Owls appear all over Bosch’s work, so how can I not love him? Here’s one of my faves. Note the eyes and ears. It strikes me as a statement about the world right now.

While  you can read more of his writing on his website, and it’s all fascinating, unique and worth every bit of your while, getting a book like this is a rare gift, one that must have taken him years of very hard work to put together.

“You’ll stay with me?
Until the very end,’ said James.”*

So, the next time you’re in your better brick & mortar Bookstore, see if they have “Jheronimus Bosch: The Road to Heaven and Hell” by Gary Schwartz and published by The Overlook Press. Pick it up and thumb through it. I guarantee it will cast a spell on you, too.

PS- I only hope his next book is on Jan (or Jan & Hubert) Van Eyck…

*- Quotations from “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling, published by Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009. The first quote also appears in Matthew 6:19-24.

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