The Extraction of the Stone of Madness (The Cure of Folly)

Infobox Painting

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title=The Extraction of the Stone of Madness
(The Cure of Folly)
artist=Hieronymus Bosch
year=1475–1480
type=Oil on board
height=48
width=35
city=Madrid
museum=Museo del Prado

"The Extraction of the Stone of Madness (The Cure of Folly)" is a painting by Hieronymus Bosch, completed between 1475 and 1480.

The painting depicts the extraction of a "keye" (in English a "stone" or "bulb") from a patient's head, a common operation in Bosch's time; however, Bosch has exchanged the traditional "stone" as the object of extraction with the bulb of a flower. Another flower is on the table. The inscription reads, "Meester snyt die Keye ras - myne name is lubbert das" (Master, cut away the stone – my name is Lubbert Das). Lubbert Das was a comical (foolish) character in Dutch literature.

Interpretations

It is possible that the flower is a pun on "tulip head" - meaning mad in Netherlands. Another possibility is that the flower hints that the doctor is a charlatan (as does the funnel hat).

The woman balancing a book on her head is thought by Skemmer to be a satire of the Flemish custom of wearing amulets made out of books and scripture, a pictogram for the word . [Skemer 2006:24.] Otherwise, she is thought to depict folly.

Attributed works

This painting, and others by Bosch, were an inspiration to the works of the seminal Punk musicians Wire. On their album, "The Ideal Copy", they included a track titled "Madman's Honey" which included the lyric "master cut the stone out, my name is Lubbert Das" -- a direct reference to this Bosch painting.

References

* (book on head) "Binding Words Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages". Skemer, Don C. PA: Penn State Press, 2006. p. 24, 136n. ISBN 0271027223.