Renaissance to Reformation
The Tower of Babel
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History Behind the Art
In 1563 an artist by the name of Pieter Bruegel painted a series of three paintings depicting “The Tower of Babel”, sadly only two of these paintings survived. Bruegel was an artist who lived in Antwerp during the 14th century where the Protestant Reformation was being born. With the Catholic rule being threatened by Reformers (people who questioned the Catholic Church’s depiction of the bible and their reign) such as Martin Luther & John Calvin. Pieter Bruegel followed quickly, speaking upon the situation through his artwork. Above are two paintings by Pieter Bruegel that I believe show his involvement in the Protestant Reformation that was happening around him. The first painting is called “The (Great) Tower of Babel” and the second painting “The (Little) Tower of Babel”
What is the Tower of Babel?
The Tower of Babel comes from a story in the Bible out of the book of Genesis. This story took place early in the creation of man after the flood and mankind spoke only one language. Together, mankind wanted to build a tower that would reach heaven and prided themselves in their capabilities to build something so great. God, who wasn't pleased with mankind's oneness in the building of Babel visited the earth and dispersed mankind throughout the world confusing their language. By doing so the construction of The Tower of Babel was stopped and never reached the heavens. Man was not one anymore.
Why Babel?
Why did Pieter Bruegel choose to paint The Tower of Babel? Was it merely to bring to life the story of Babel? Was it because painting any religious theme was popular back then? Or was there a meaning behind it that displayed current events of the time? I believe that the latter of these questions seems to be the most likely related. There is much significance in Bruegel’s choice of Bible stories to choose The Tower of Babel during the time of the Reformation. During Babel the “one” people were divided through language, they could not communicate with each other anymore. During the Reformation the “one” Church was divided by denomination, and the Church could no longer see eye to eye. When Martin Luther had shared his Ninety-Five Theses with Europe, people were given permission to think for themselves in regards to Christianity. All of a sudden the Bible and its interpretation wasn't hidden from the common people or peasants. This freedom of interpretation quickly led to many beliefs of what was theologically correct and what was not. What brought salvation to the soul and what brought the damned. In this new found freedom that was no longer held by the Pope, Protestantism sprouted and created many different branches of Christianity. Because the Church and politics during the time intertwined together tightly this led to many wars not only between different countries but within the royal families and monarchies. The Tower of Babel had fallen in Europe. The Church was not one anymore. The power had been dispersed. There was significance in the individual and his interpretation.
Elements In the Tower and Shinar
I love Pieter Bruegel’s first painting of the Tower “The (Great) Tower of Babel” because it has so many different details in it. It’s like a picture from a story book that holds five different subplots. First, we see this construction of a building/tower take place. Many people say that Pieter was inspired by the architecture of the Tower from Roman coliseums which he visited during his time in Italy. Second, our eye catches the King (supposedly Nimrod mentioned in the Bible) who is directing his subjects to build the tower. Personally, I tend to notice the subject on the ground before the King more than I notice the King himself. Third, we can make out the city of Shinar past the King and his court. Fourth, there is the harbor to the right of the tower with many boats. It is clear that civilization is present in this painting. Fifth, we catch onto that beautiful horizon that goes far beyond the Tower and Shinar.
Pieter’s second painting of the Tower “The (Little) Tower of Babel” holds many of the same subplots but a little bit of a different story line. In this painting we can see that the tower is a little more completed than the first picture of Babel. And if you have the ability to see this painting close up you will notice that many of the subjects who we see on land in the first painting are now sprawled all over the Tower in the second painting as little white specks of people. They are still building the Tower.
In this series Pieter used oil paints to make these pieces (a very renaissance medium to use) but what impresses me the most is how he was able to use color & balance as a foreshadow of the doom that awaited Babel. In his first painting the colors are very hopeful and even inspiring a bit of magic in the way that it gives off a fairytale ending vibe. But, the shape and balance of the Tower itself is slightly off and tilting as if it is about to fall. In the second painting his colors are slightly more dark and give off an eerie feeling. Shinar looks more like a desert than the luscious green city we find in his first painting. It is as if the city has sold itself to the construction of Babel and is slowly dying. When you look at the subjects in the second painting you see hundreds of them at work on the tower (you will have to zoom in to see this on a screen) they resemble ants at work in a mound of dirt. They start to look much more like slaves rather then subjects.
These two pieces of artwork have so much to say alone and together. I wish that the third piece to Bruegel’s series of the Tower of Babel was still present today. I feel that the ending of his story was lost and it is at our own expense. But, that being said, I am in awe of how much can be said and seen just by these two pieces depicting The Tower of Babel and perhaps the fall of the Church as one.
Sources:
YouTube, 2 Apr. 2012, https://youtu.be/K6BKDveCd9w. Accessed 7 June 2022.
Awesome job Eva!
ReplyDeleteThe Tower of Babel is one of my favorite stories in the Bible and such an interesting explanation the vastly different languages found across the globe. Your comparison between the Church and humanity was great; but, I believe there is another collapse that can be represented by both the painting and the story.
Though the Holy Roman Empire did not fall until 1806, this 'empire' (more of a confederation) was greatly influenced - at times completely controlled - by the Catholic Church and, even more, the Pope himself. This influence began early in the empire's history, with the crowning of Charlemagne in 800 AD. From that moment forward, a secular power division formed, even though "Holy" was added to the title of the empire; truthfully, many successive Popes care little about Christianity, rather pushing for selfish gain during their individual papacies. The Church used brutal might to maintain a confederation of very different Europe cultures, and to wage war on other religious entities; this all gave the impression that the Holy Roman Empire was 'one' - that the Church, and all Christians, were one.
So, with the Church already divided, when the empire fell this signify the final religious unity in Europe. From here, numerous empires would come and go, with a very few (besides the British) coming close to the might and expanse of the final Roman Empire - and showing humanity was divided once again.
I really love the repeating architecture and the shear scale of the tower. I particularly like the one on the right because of the bright contrasting colors of the tower itself and the ocean and clouds. I also agree with the story within the painting and that there is a lot to go into with it still being built and still appearing to be in use.
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