Bird with Letter (Large) JB25 - Hiëronymus Bosch

HIERONYMUS BOSCH - Bird with Letter large JB25

The inscription on this note in the beak of this birdlike monster on skates could throw a light on the contemplated symbolism. Unfortunately, this text, which is diffucult to read, is open to various interpretations, but none of them are proven to be accurate. The postman-like freak is perhaps delivering a letter to the conspiring figures in the hole under the bridge. The funnel on this curious bird’s head gives him a preposterous appearance. This headwear is referred to elsewhere as wisdom or absentt-mindedness, but that symbolism seems unsuitable here.

The Temptation of Saint Anthony
Saint Anthony won a lot of praise in Hiëronymus Bosch’s heyday. He resisted diabolical temptations, in sharp contrast with the ordinary mortals, as this triptych portrays in splendid colours.
The postman-like freak is perhaps delivering a letter to the conspiring figures in the hole under the bridge.