Art › Vienna › The Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Tower of Babel
The tower that was meant to reach heaven, rising in rings of arches over a Flemish port.
Bruegel built his tower like the Colosseum in Rome, which he had seen, ring upon ring of arches spiralling up into the clouds, already crumbling at the bottom before the top is finished. Around it lies a busy Flemish harbour like Antwerp’s, ships unloading stone.
In the corner King Nimrod, who ordered it built, visits the stonemasons, who kneel before him. Thousands of tiny workers swarm over it, with cranes, ladders and scaffolding. A smaller version by Bruegel hangs in Rotterdam. Stand before it in 3D ›
