Artwork
Burning of the Old Amsterdam Town Hall
Burning of the Old Amsterdam Town Hall is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jan van der Heyden. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jan van der Heyden’s 1690 print, *Burning of the Old Amsterdam Town Hall*, records the catastrophic blaze that consumed the city’s former municipal building. Executed as an etching and engraving on laid paper, the work presents a bustling urban scene where flames, smoke, and a panicked populace dominate the composition, offering a vivid snapshot of a historic disaster.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment the old town hall succumbs to fire, its roof collapsed and embers leaping toward adjacent structures. Crowds of pedestrians, horse‑drawn carts, and a canal‑side boat convey the human urgency of evacuation and rescue, while the presence of bucket‑carrying firefighters underscores communal attempts to control the inferno.
Technique & Style
Van der Heyden employed the etching process, incising lines into a copper plate before printing onto laid paper, and supplemented the image with engraving to sharpen details. His characteristic precision renders architectural elements with exacting clarity, while varied hatching creates depth, contrast, and the turbulent atmosphere of smoke and flame.
History & Provenance
Created in the late seventeenth century, the print reflects van der Heyden’s dual reputation as a cityscape artist and an innovator in fire‑suppression engineering. Original impressions have circulated among Dutch collections, and the work is documented in several museum holdings that trace its ownership from early private collectors to public institutions.
Context
The disaster depicted occurred in 1652 when Amsterdam’s medieval town hall was destroyed, prompting the construction of the current Royal Palace. Van der Heyden’s depiction, produced decades later, aligns with the Dutch Golden Age’s interest in documenting civic events and showcases his broader focus on urban architecture and public safety.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van der Heyden (5 March 1637, Gorinchem – 28 March 1712, Amsterdam) was a Dutch Baroque-era painter, glass painter, draughtsman and printmaker.
