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

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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 "stone" 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 a flower. Another flower is on the table. 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 book on the nun's head is also considered to depict folly.

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.

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.

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