Concert in the Egg

"Concert in the Egg" is a captivating painting once thought to be a copy of a lost work by the renowned artist Hieronymus Bosch. However, it is currently believed to be inspired by one of his drawings. Art historian Max Jakob Friedländer once referred to it as 'an old copy' but did not specify which original work it might have been based on.

The painting showcases an eccentric scene where a group of singers forms the "yolk" of an egg. This is a clever pun, linking the "yolk" to the idea of a "fool" or "yokel." Adding to the peculiarity, there is an eel that resembles a beer, subtly hinting at "ale." The entire scene evokes Bosch's "Ship of Fools" particularly since one singer is so engrossed in his song that he fails to notice a lute player stealing from him.

Contemporary experts believe the painting was created by an anonymous follower of Bosch. This conclusion is drawn from examining the music in an open book within the painting, which displays notes from the chanson "Toutes les nuictz" by Thomas Crecquillon, dating back to 1549.

In 1890, the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille acquired the painting for 400 francs from a Parisian art dealer named Morhange. Fast forward to 2008, and it was exhibited at the Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch, under the Dutch title "Zangers en musici in een ei" (Singers and Musicians in an Egg).

The painting’s intriguing elements and potential inspirations continue to fascinate art lovers and historians, offering a glimpse into the whimsical and symbolic world of Bosch and his followers.