Who painted Stadtbrand (Nachahmer)?

Stadtbrand (Nachahmer) was painted by Egbert van der Poel in 1642.

Where can I see Stadtbrand (Nachahmer)?

Stadtbrand (Nachahmer) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Stadtbrand (Nachahmer)?

Stadtbrand (Nachahmer) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Stadtbrand (Nachahmer)

Egbert van der Poel , 1642

Stadtbrand (Nachahmer) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Egbert van der Poel. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Stadtbrand (Nachahmer) is an oil painting executed in 1642 by the Dutch artist Egbert van der Poel. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It portrays a city engulfed in flames, capturing a moment of urban disaster with a focus on human response.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a conflagration consuming a town’s structures, while figures in the foreground scramble away, clutching personal belongings. The scene conveys the urgency and panic of an emergency, emphasizing the vulnerability of both architecture and its inhabitants during sudden catastrophe.

Technique & Style

Van der Poel employs a dramatic contrast of light and shadow, allowing the fire’s golden glow to illuminate the surrounding smoke and fleeing crowd. A varied palette of reds, oranges, and muted earth tones renders the intensity of the blaze, while fine brushwork details the expressions and gestures of the evacuees.

History & Provenance

Created during the mid‑17th century, the painting reflects contemporary interest in disaster narratives. It entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.

Context

The work aligns with a broader Dutch tradition of depicting urban fires, a subject that resonated in a period marked by frequent citywide blazes. Van der Poel’s treatment mirrors the era’s preoccupation with the interplay of natural forces and human fragility.