This dismisses the popular controversial theory circulated by Wilhelm Fraenger. Fraenger (1994: ) states that Bosch belonged secretly to the sect of Adamite's in Netherlands, which celebrated promiscuity and that they were the patrons of one of his most popular and enigmatic works, The Garden of Earthly Delights. .
2.2 Style .
His work can be divided into three phases: early, middle and late. This research is mainly concerned with the late, most mature phase of his work, which is considered to be from 1500s until his death.
His work is didactic, painted with beliefs held by the Medieval world, which was founded on and sustained the idea of Christian charity (ref : ). It was created in times of great uncertainty: Reformation in Northern Europe and surfacing of capitalistic economy, were greatly changing and shaping the Gothic world, as the end of the fifteenth century was approaching (ref: ).
It is believed that Bosh held the view of society as fraudulent and abhorrent, where vice reigned over virtue, the pathway that lead mankind to eternal damnation, with no hope of salvation or redemption. Bosch focused on depicting vices instead of virtues. He depicts, didactic subject matter, such as vices, as a part of everyday life, through using allegory. This is depicted through continuos narrative. The landscape is panoramic and often delineated in order to illustrate better the narrative.
The artist can not be pinned down to a particular school of painting that existed in his time in the Netherlands. .
He painted much faster with using the oil technique, than his contemporaries, resulting in the freshness of his figures. He did not focus on the meticulous application of layer upon layer; such is seen in van Eyck's work. Quite often the preliminary outlines can be seen, even in the completed state of the painting. .
The innovative approach in his work manifested itself through his work becoming exemplary and widely copied by the artists that were also active around that time, as suggested by Linfert ( 1989: ).
