Old Testament Oudenaarde tapestry with the Tower of Babel., late 16th centu

An Old Testament biblical tapestry with the destruction of the Tower of Babel.
Oudenaarde, late 16th century.

Measures 316 x 260cm.

A finely woven tapestry depicting the Temple of Babylon in flames, with the residents of Babylon running with their plunder from the tower, later to return for its bricks as well. In the lower left corner, sits a Queen in an elaborate gown, upon her lap she is accompanied by her pet dragon, to the lower right sits a nobleman and his wife, their child upon her lap, the father offers an apple to the child, a reference to the original sin, the scene is played out within a verdant landscape. The tapestry is enclosed by an ornate border decorated with allegorical figures, noble couples in pastoral landscapes, putti, floral and fruiting bouquets, balustrades, caryatids and fauns playing pipes. Later brown borders frame the composition, backed and ready to hang.

The Tower of Babel was the first skyscraper in history and a symbol of the power and arrogance of ancient Babylon. It stood at the center of the bustling city, now located in modern-day Iraq. Babylon was a city of expansive squares, wide streets, and narrow, twisting alleys. However, the once-great “City of Cities” eventually crumbled into ruin. In time, the people of Babylon dismantled the Tower of Babel, repurposing its bricks to construct their own homes.