Nimrod supervising the construction of the Tower of Babel

This composition is one of several versions painted by Frans Francken II. The prime version is generally considered to be the signed painting in the Prado Museum (inv. no. P002737), which is in a horizontal format. Another version, executed on a horizontal copper plate, appeared most recently at Sotheby’s, London, 14 December 2000, lot 113. A vertical copper panel, similar to the present painting, is mounted on the interior of a Kunstkabinett door alongside other biblical scenes painted by Francken, now at Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire (inv. no. NT 652719.1). Each composition varies slightly, most notably in the treament of the trees at right. When last sold in 2004, Dr. Ursula Härting endorsed the attribution of this painting on the basis of a colour transparency.