The tower of Babel (1568)

This is probably the first Tower of Babel by Van Valckenborch. It is obvious that he had a good look at the Rotterdam Tower of Babel by his contemporary and fellow artist Pieter Bruegel. This tower is also modelled after the Colosseum in Rome.

Like Bruegel in his Vienna Tower Van Valckenborch incorporated the story of Nimrod, the man who supposedly ordered the construction of the tower. He can be seen in the foreground. In the biblical story on the tower, Nimrod is not mentioned.

Other Towers by Van Valckenborch: 1594 and 1595. See also our special on the Tower.