The Tower of Babel
Artistcircle of
Hendrick van Cleve
(Netherlandish, 1525 - 1589)
Date16th Century
CultureFlemish
MediumOil on panel
ClassificationPaintings
Provenanceunknown. Purchased by Pierre de Séjournet in France; purchased by The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, October 1968-present.
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
Dimensions14 × 24 3/16 × 13/16 in. (35.6 × 61.4 × 2 cm)- Museum of Art, Gallery 14, Wall West
