The painting "Tower of Babel": description

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Among all the works of world fine art, Brueghel's painting "The Tower of Babel" occupies a special place. Its main feature lies in the fact that it is in accordance with what is depicted on it that most of humanity imagines what one of the most striking events of the Old Testament looked like.

From the history of a masterpiece

It is authentically known that "The Tower of Babel", a painting by the outstanding sixteenth-century Dutch painter Pieter Brueghel the Elder, was painted by him in 1563. It is her that art critics consider to be the first of the two author's versions of this work. The first of them is currently in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in the capital of Austria, and the second is exhibited in the artist's homeland, at the Boysmans-van-Beuningem Museum in Rotterdam. The second option is almost half the size of the first. In addition, it has a darker color scheme and features fewer characters. Both versions of the work were painted with oil paints on a wooden base.

What does the viewer see in the picture?

The painting "Tower of Babel" by Pieter Brueghel reveals to the viewer a mysterious image of the legendary biblical building, which is in the midst of its construction. But even inthe unfinished form of the tower staggers the viewer's imagination. The strongest impression is made not so much by the structure itself, rushing to the transcendental heights, but by the engineering and architectural persuasiveness with which it is built.

All scrupulous elaboration of the smallest details is strictly subordinated to the general plan. And this does not leave the slightest doubt that such a structure could actually be built. The tower represents a single bright architectural image, extremely daring in its design and convincing in its engineering implementation in practice. The reality of what is happening is emphasized by people working in construction. The painting "Tower of Babel" captured the builders until the moment when the angry Supreme Creator stopped the implementation of their project by his will. They do not yet know that the Tower will not be completed, and are busily climbing up with building materials and tools. In the foreground, you can see the ruler of Babylon, Nimrod, with his retinue. It was this figure who was considered the architect and leader of the construction of the Tower of Babel. It is interesting to note that the background landscape with a river and boats bears little resemblance to ancient Mesopotamia, where, according to the original source, the tower was built. As a background, the artist clearly depicted his native Holland.

Bible storyline

The most detailed description of the painting "The Tower of Babel" can tell little to a viewer who is not knowledgeable in biblical history. Moreover, in that part of it, which in the Orthodox tradition is referred to as"Old Testament". Brueghel's painting "The Tower of Babel" is inspired by the Book of Genesis, the first of the Pentateuch of Moses. This Old Testament prophet is traditionally revered in Christianity along with the apostles and evangelists. This fundamental work underlies the three world religions.

Of course, Brueghel's painting "The Tower of Babel" is dedicated to only one specific episode of this book. He tells how people dared to measure their creative power with God and set out to build a big city with a tower to heaven in its center. But the Supreme Creator stopped this intention by mixing the languages of the townspeople, as a result of which they ceased to understand each other. And construction stopped. This parable illustrates the futility of human pride towards God.

Trip to Rome

The painting "Tower of Babel" shows the viewer a very large number of architectural details. It is difficult to imagine that all of them were taken by the artist from his own imagination. Moreover, in his homeland, in Holland, there is no such architecture. Indeed, it is known from historical sources that in 1553 Pieter Brueghel the Elder visited Rome, where he made sketches of ancient architecture.

First of all, the Colosseum attracted his attention. It is his outlines that are easily recognized in the Tower of Babel. It resembles the Colosseum not only in the outer wall, but also in the whole carefully drawninternal structure. An attentive viewer can easily find a lot of similarities in the arcade tiers, colonnades and double arches of both architectural structures - fictional and real. And to find the difference between them, you should look to the east, towards the Ancient Mesopotamia.

Images of Ancient Mesopotamia

Many researchers of ancient history have noticed that the "Tower of Babel", a painting by Pieter Brueghel, is largely inspired by the real architecture of Mesopotamia. This architecture is characteristic of the unique culture of this ancient country, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

On the territory of modern Iraq, you can still find ziggurats - ancient places of worship. The principle of their construction is identical to the tower from the painting by Brueghel. The same spiral overpass along the outer wall leads to their top. It had a mystical meaning and ritual significance - people ascended to heaven along it. Of course, in terms of size, no ziggurats can compete with the Tower of Babel. But they are located in the same area as described in the Old Testament. This coincidence cannot be accidental. Thus, the painting "Tower of Babel" reflects the architectural images of two ancient civilizations - Rome and Mesopotamia.

Reflections and refractions

"The Tower of Babel", a painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, has become one of the most striking and memorable images in the history of fine arts. Throughout its almost half a millennium history, itmany times copied, parodied and rethought by other artists of different eras.

In particular, this image can be observed in the adaptation of Tolkien's famous novel "The Lord of the Rings". It was the painting "The Tower of Babel" by Pieter Brueghel that served as a source of inspiration for the film's artists. The city of Minas Tirith is copied from it, where one of the most important episodes of the cult story takes place.