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The Burning City
The Burning City

The Burning City

Dateca. 1654
Maker Egbert Lievensz van der Poel Dutch, 1621-1664
Label TextOn October 12, 1654, in the Dutch city of Delft, a building storing 90,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded. The explosion and subsequent fire killed more than a hundred people and wounded thousands. Every building in the city was damaged, and many were completely razed. One artist, Egbert Lievenz. van der Poel, painted at least twelve depictions of the disastrous fire and its aftermath, often setting the scene at night for maximum dramatic impact. Illuminated only by the raging blaze, citizens urgently try to put out the flames while other people and livestock flee the scene.
Object number47.160
Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions16 7/8 x 23 7/8 in. (42.9 x 60.6 cm)
MediumOil on panel
Photo: Susan Cole
Balthasar van der Ast
1617
Object number: 2023.4
Photo: Susan A. Cole
Stradanus (Jan van der Straet)
ca. 1572
Object number: 2006.126
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
Jan Swart van Groningen
16th century
Object number: 65.40
Madonna and Child
Bernaert van Orley
1530s-40s
Object number: 68.99
Photo: Susan A. Cole
Stradanus (Jan van der Straet)
ca. 1572
Object number: 2009.1
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Joris van der Hagen
1615-1669
Object number: 63.149
Landscape
Jacob van der Ulft
mid 17th century
Object number: 62.164
Photo: Paul Macapia
Anthony van Dyck
1638-39
Object number: 98.15
Photo: Paul Macapia
Abraham van Beyeren
ca. 1653 - 55
Object number: 61.146
Photo: Paul Macapia
Gerrit van Honthorst
1627
Object number: 61.156
Landscape with Shepherds and Cattle
Dirck van Bergen
1682
Object number: 70.9
Photo: Paul Macapia
Gherardo di Giovanni del Fora
ca. 1475
Object number: 53.86