Artwork
Fire by Night
Fire by Night is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Egbert van der Poel. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Egbert van der Poel’s oil work, dated around 1650, depicts a nocturnal blaze consuming a built environment. The composition centers on a towering flame, its glow spilling over surrounding structures and casting stark shadows across a gathering of onlookers. The painting is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a chaotic moment of urban fire at night, with figures clustered near the inferno, some clutching torches or other implements. Their varied postures—gazing upward, shielding themselves, or simply witnessing—convey a collective response to sudden disaster, emphasizing human vulnerability amid uncontrolled destruction.
Technique & Style
Van der Poel employs pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the fire’s luminous orange and yellow tones to dominate against a deep, almost black sky. The contrast heightens the drama, while loose brushwork suggests the swirling smoke and flickering light, reinforcing the sense of urgency and turmoil.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑17th century, the work has remained in public ownership, currently residing in the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its acquisition history reflects the museum’s focus on Dutch Golden Age painting, situating the piece within a broader collection of period Dutch genre and landscape works.
Artist & collection
The explosion of the powder magazine in Delft, 12 October 1654
Fire in a Village
Interior of a barn
Fish market at night
Portal of a stairway tower, with a man descending the stairs: presumably the moment before the assassination of William the Silent in the Ptinsenhof, Delft
Nocturnal Fire and Looting in a Town
Landscape with farm at a river
Interior of a barn
