The Tower of Babel
Artistcircle of
Hendrick van Cleve
(Netherlandish, 1525 - 1589)
Date16th Century
MediumOil on panel
Dimensions14 × 24 3/16 × 13/16 in. (35.6 × 61.4 × 2 cm)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum purchase, 1968
Object numberSN848
In the Old Testament, man’s hubris drove people to attempt to build a tower which would reach the heavens. But God punished their pride by confusing their language so that no one could communicate, and the building ceased. In this painting countless people are flocking around the structure, which reaches towards the clouds. The architecture of the tower was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome.
On View
On viewLocation
- Museum of Art, Gallery 14, Wall West
