The Bible In Paintings, #8: THE TOWER OF BABEL

Bing Images | c. 2000 BC -- c. 90 AD | Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

[Yes indeedy, boys and girls, I published #9 out-of-sequence just now,
so you get 2 for the price of 1 today!]

GENESIS 11:1-9 (NIV)

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

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Here is the Bing page "TOWER OF BABEL IN ART” showing various painters' conceptions. Several are serious works worthy of interest. Some examples:

by GUSTAV DORÉ

by ATHANASIUS KIRCHER

by an unknown artist

PALATINE CHAPEL MOSAIC

by PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER

by PIETER BRUEGEL THE YOUNGER

by PIETER BRUEGEL THE YOUNGER

byTOBIAS VERHAECHT

by PAUL GOSSELIN

by JOACHIM PATINIR

by MARTEN VAN VALCKENBORCH

by FREDERIK VAN VALCKENBORCH

by FREDERIK VAN VALCKENBORGH

by an unknown artist

by HENDRICK VAN CLEVE

by HENDRICK VAN CLEVE

by TOMISLAV TOMIC

by MICHAEL LASSEL

by CORNELIUS ANTHONISZ

NumisCollect Coin

by a whimsical artist

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Again, here is the Bing page "TOWER OF BABEL IN ART” with many more images.
Also, here are links to compendia of three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANT van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
(illustrations for La Grande Bible de Tours)

JAMES TISSOT

Finally, here are links to the PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES.

SNEAK PEEK: Next time, GOD CALLS ABRAM

[Hebrews 11:6]

I am surveying "Bible art" for my own amusement and learning (at the Spirit's prompting) and thought others might enjoy it, too. Various artists' conceptions enrich my own thoughts about biblical incidents. My intent is to proceed methodically left-to right, Genesis to Revelation , as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.), and these artists have done so and their works can assist us. But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is coming soon. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it. Here is the Official Trailer.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

According to BLM, the first language they EVERYONE spoke was Ebonics.

[Hebrews 11:6]

So that's why God changed it!

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

So that's why God changed it!

Yep.

[null and void]

All conical? Is there any biblical authority for that rather than a straight sided pyramid?

[Hebrews 11:6]

None at all. Purely artistic license. The world impatiently awaits your rectilinear version....

[xenia]

This collection of artwork is amazing. I had no idea there were so many artist depictions of the tower.

[left that other site]

EU Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Inspired by Bruegel.

[null and void]

OK, I don't know what Authority issues an artistic license...

Cambodian

Chaldean

Egyptian

Mayan

[Hebrews 11:6]

It’s like lawyers, doctors, barbers, architects: the professionals donate to (are extorted by) politicians to create licensing boards controlled by those same professionals.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I had no idea there were so many artist depictions of the tower.

Nor did I. My ignorance is why I started this survey initially. There are more images at the link.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks—a worthy addition to this thread.

[xp38]

The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang North Korea is the tallest thing in that city. Sort of reminds me of the tower of Babel. Its a mixed use building that has never been finished and never opened. Has stood empty for 30 years now.

[dfwgator]

Soon to be “Trump Tower - Pyongyang”

[xp38]

You’d almost think that given events.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Looks to me like a rocket ship.

[Hebrews 11:6]

With Dennis Rodman as the manager.

[dfwgator]

Works for me.

[newfreep]

"Kenny's Tower"

[null and void]

*forehead slap* Of course!