Artwork
The Fire of London
The Fire of London is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist David Scott. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
The Fire of London is an 1843 oil painting by David Scott, depicting a chaotic scene of people fleeing a fire. Held at the Scottish National Gallery, the work captures the panic and urgency of the event through its composition and palette.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a dramatic moment of crisis, with figures in various states of distress: running, sitting, or lying down, overwhelmed by smoke. The focus is on the human response to disaster rather than the fire itself.
Technique & Style
Scott employed bold brushstrokes and a predominantly dark, muted color scheme (browns and grays) to convey chaos. Although not explicitly evident here, the artist's known use of chiaroscuro (strong contrasts between light and dark) may influence the overall mood.
History & Provenance
Created in 1843 by David Scott, the painting is part of the collection at the Scottish National Gallery, indicating its recognized historical and artistic value.
Context
While the specific fire depicted is not identified in the provided details, the work reflects 19th-century interests in depicting dramatic, often catastrophic, events, appealing to the public's fascination with disaster and survival.
Legacy
The painting's legacy is marked by its inclusion in a national gallery, suggesting it is valued for its historical and artistic representation of a universal theme—humanity in the face of disaster.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Scott painted dramatic scenes from history and myth in oils during the early 1800s.
Queen Elizabeth (1533–1603), Viewing the Performance of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' at the Globe Theatre
The Traitor's Gate
A Study for 'The Descent from the Cross'
Ariel and Caliban
The Belated Peasant (from Milton's 'Paradise Lost')
Philoctetes left on the Isle of Lemnos by the Greeks on their passage towards Troy
The Vintager
Puck Fleeing from the Dawn
The Reconciliation of the Romans and Sabines
Spanish Boys Playing at Bull-fighting
The Vote (Sketch)
The Triumph of Saul (sketch)
The death of Darius
Three Girls asleep under a Tent - Morning
A Garden Fête
The Carousal (Scene from Faust?)![[Compositional Sketch for] The Death of the Regent Moray, by William Allan](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/william-allan--compositional-sketch-for-the-death-of-the-regent-moray--a371b9f114da2fdd-w320.webp)
[Compositional Sketch for] The Death of the Regent Moray
Quitting the Manse
A Druids' Ceremony
An Incident in the Great Plague of London