Artwork
The Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features the massive, spiraling construction of the tower itself alongside a tree, which is explicitly identified as a depicted element.
The work depicts the biblical narrative of the Tower of Babel, serving as a central subject within the genre of religious art. The composition features the massive, spiraling construction of the tower itself alongside a tree, which is explicitly identified as a depicted element. As a religious painting, the subject matter represents the scriptural account of humanity's attempt to build a structure reaching the heavens and the subsequent confusion of languages.
The artwork is attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder, with contributions from Tobias Verhaecht, and functions as a visual interpretation of this specific theological story.
Technique & Style
The Tower of Babel is an oil painting on panel, measuring 172 cm in height by 225 cm in width. The work is executed in oil paint, a medium that allows for the detailed, layered handling characteristic of the piece. Its large scale and panel support suggest a substantial, carefully constructed composition typical of religious paintings from this period.
The formal qualities emphasize architectural monumentality and naturalistic detail, with the tower dominating the composition and trees framing the scene.
History & Provenance
The Tower of Babel by Jan Brueghel the Elder is dated to circa 1550. The work entered the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), part of the Flemish Art Collection, where it remains held. The painting is oil on panel and depicts the biblical Tower of Babel under a religious theme.
The Tower of Babel is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, which is part of the Vlaamse Kunstcollectie. The work is attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder, potentially with contributions from Tobias Verhaecht. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the painting. Additionally, the available documentation contains no information regarding a history of exhibitions for this artwork.
Overview
The Tower of Babel is a Flemish Baroque painting executed in oil paint, depicting a biblical scene.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch:; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
