The Tower of Babel

Ask anything

• Emanuel asked

  Hi is museum close? Where can i see the Brueghel babel tower ?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Emanuel, the museum is indeed closed for renovations. If the paining by Breugel isn't on loan to a different institution, it will be on view in the Depot (which opens this november). Be mindful however that this isn't a museum and the painting won't be exhibited as such and might not always will be visible. Best, Lisa Heinis

• Karen Blackall asked

  I would like to include an image of Bruegel's Little Tower of Babel in a dissertation I am writing as a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This is for educational use only. What permission do I need, or is this fair use?
  
  Sincerely,
  Karen Blackall

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Karen, Since the artist died over 75 years ago you can use the image freely. It will be appreciated though that you mention the name of the photographer. Please contact images@boijmans.nl
  Kind regards, Els

• Jiaying asked

  Dear sir and madam,
  I would like to know if the picture of artworks on your website is in public domain. I am wondering about using the tower of babel in my book which is to be published.
  Thanks in advance.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Jiaying,
  For request regarding images you can send an email to images@boijmans.nl
  Kind regards, Sofie

• Seiji Nakahata asked

  I'm going to Rotterdam to see "The Tower of Babel" this coming August. The museum should be closed, so I'd like to know where I can see The Tower of Babel during August.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Seiji, Unfortunately this painting will not be on view in August, it will be in storage because of the current renovation of the museum. Sorry for the disappointing message! Greetings, Sarie.

• Tim asked

  Hi! Is it possible to see "The Tower of Babel", if I come within the next weeks to Rotterdam? Or is there even something like a timetable, when its on loan to another museum? Thanks in advance!

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  UPDATE: WILL BE ON VIEW 22 MARCH - 18 JULY 2021 @ THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON --- Hi Tim, unfortunately within the next weeks you won't be able to see this artwork. We expect the work to start travelling by October, possibly also internationally, but this is not completely certain yet. If you want to keep up to date, it might be easiest to subscribe to our newsletter? I will also try to remember to send you an update when we know more. Best, Rianne

• Jill Brownbill asked

  Will the Breughel Tower of Babel be on display in Rotterdam when the Museum Boijmans Van Beuninghen is closed for renovation?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Jill, we don't know yet exactly, but it might not always be on display. You can check its webpage in Boijmans collection online. In specifications you can always find the up to date location of the painting. Best, Xin

• E.O. asked

  Could you tell me when will it be on display again?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi E.O., The Tower of Babel will be on display from February 9 - May 26, 2019 in our new presentation 'When the Shutters Close'. Will you come and visit us to see it? best, Sophie

• YukoF asked

  Hello.
  I’m Yuko.
  I’ll visit your museum in the middle of April,and I’d like to The Tower of Babel.
  Can I see it in the middle of April??
  Or could you tell me when I can see it ?
  
  Sincerely
  Yuko
  

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Yuko,
  You can see The Tower of Babel in our exhibition ‘When the Panels are Closed’, from 9 february until 26 may 2019. Enjoy your visit in April!
  Kind regards,
  Esther
  

• Takashi asked

  Thanks for your kind reply! One more question, "When" The Tower of Babel will come
  back and on display in your museum?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Takashi, the Tower of Babel will be back on display in our museum from the middel of February 2019. Will you come and see it? best, Sophie

• Takashi asked

  Hi, Could you advise where can we watch "The Tower of Babel" now (= on NOV-DEC 2018) ?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Takashi,
  You can see The Tower of Babel in the ‘Kunsthistorisches Museum’ in Vienna, Austria, until 13 january 2019.
  Kind regards,
  Esther
  

• Masa asked

  Hi, when The Tower of Babel will came back and on display? How about during April to October in 2019?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Masa,
  The Tower of Babel is currently on loan to Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, it will be on display there until January 13, 2019.
  
  Kind regards,
  Esther

• Marie asked

  Hello! I am writing a paper for my Art History class, and I chose to analyse Pieter Bruegel's The Tower of Babel. Unfortunately, I cannot find any relevant information about the patronage of this art work. If you told me who was the patron for this painting (if there was one), it would help me a lot! Thanks in advance.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Marie,
  Unfortunately, it is unknown whether the painting was commissioned by anyone. According to Karel van Mander’s accounts, the painting was part of the collection of Rudolf II of Prague at the beginning of the seventeenth century, together with the larger version of this painting.
  Best,
  Frederieke
  

• Tim Mak asked

  On the left side of Bruegel's Tower, why is there a "red strip" and a "white strip" from the ground to almost the top?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Tim,
  
  Well-spotted! If you look carefully, the upper part of the tower is of a brighter red colour than the bottom part. Since the bricks in the lower parts of the tower have sat there for a longer time, they are more corroded and weathered. The red vertical strip you described indicates the transport of new red bricks to the top of the tower. The white vertical strip you furthermore mentioned is indicative of the transport of limestone.
  
  Cheers,
  Frederieke
  

• Ashida Tsubasa asked

  Where on the website can I check whether the artwork is displayed or not in your museum?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Ashida, when a work is on display you can tell by the label on the side of the image, with the text 'Now on display'. Right now, the Tower of Babel is not on display in Rotterdam, but is on view in Tokyo as part of an exhibition displaying the museum's highlights of 15th- and 16th-century Dutch masters. All the best, Rianne

• Filipe asked

  First of all, the 'most famous painting of the museum' isn't included in the masterpiece route; secondly it's not in room 5 but 6, and finally the year is 1565 not 1568.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Filipe, I have already sent you my response regarding your practical remarks. As for the date of the painting: The painting has not been dated. Nearly all Bruegel experts date the work late (based also on the similarities with the painting 'Die Elster auf dem Galgen' in Darmstadt, dated in 1568. So that's why we have chosen to keep with c. 1568. Best, Rianne Schoonderbeek and Friso Lammertse

• Ashida Tsubasa asked

  Where on the website can I check whether the artwork is displayed or not in your museum?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Ashida,
  On http://collectie.boijmans.nl/en you will be able to look up specific objects from our collection. On each webpage devoted to an object you will find the subheading ‘specifications’. The fourth specification given is ‘location.’ This states whether an object is currently on display, travelling or in storage. The Tower of Babel is currently travelling, as is indicated on the website: http://collectie.boijmans.nl/en/object/3723.
  Kind regards,
  Jephta