Jan van Speijk steekt de lont in het kruit, 5 februari 1831

Doyer employs a strong chiaroscuro scheme, allowing the brief glow of the match to illuminate the figure’s face and the surrounding objects while the rest of the interior recedes into deep shadow. The contrast of a dark coat, red vest, and the bright spark heightens the drama and draws the viewer’s eye to the decisive action.

Painted circa 1850, the work entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its broader acquisition of Dutch historical genre paintings. It has remained in the museum’s collection, serving as a visual record of a national narrative from the early nineteenth‑century conflicts.

The episode depicted occurred on 5 February 1831, during the Belgian Revolution (1830‑31), when Dutch forces were retreating and the loss of military stores was a strategic concern. Van Speijk’s alleged act became a symbol of dutiful resistance, a theme frequently explored in Dutch art of the period.