An Early Netherlandish painter whose work is known for its fantastic imagery, detailed landscapes and illustrations of moral and religious concepts and narratives.

Little is known of his life, although he seems to have spent most of it in the town of 's-Hertogenbosch, where he was born in the house of his grandfather.

His pessimistic and fantastical style cast a wide influence on northern art of the 16th century, with Pieter Bruegel the Elder his best known follower. His paintings have been difficult to interpret from a modern view, but he is seen as a hugely individualistic painter with deep insight into man's desires and deepest fears. Attribution has been especially difficult as he only signed 7 of his works, plus the numerous copies and imitations that were known to have occurred, such that only about 25 paintings are confidently given to his hand. His most acclaimed works consist of a few triptych altarpieces, the most outstanding of which is The Garden of Earthly Delights.