1551
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Fall of Babylon is a 1551 ink by Jean Duvet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a chaotic scene of crumbling buildings and swirling figures. In the center, a giant hand reaches down, pulling apart a cityscape. Around it, people scramble, some holding objects like books or scrolls. The architecture looks ancient, with columns and arches, but it’s falling apart. The tiny text in the corner reads *"Hist. Cap. 8 Apoc."*—that’s a reference to the Book of Revelation, chapter 8, which describes Babylon’s fall. The artist packed in tiny details, like the faces of people in the crowd and the ruins of temples. Next, check out how this was made using engraving.
Jean Duvet (1485 – after 1562) was a French Renaissance goldsmith and engraver, now best known for his engravings.
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