Artwork
The Rapenburg in Leiden three Days after the Explosion of the Gunpowder-Ship on 12 January 1807
The Rapenburg in Leiden three Days after the Explosion of the Gunpowder-Ship on 12 January 1807 is an oil painting by Johannes Jelgerhuis. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
It offers a somber depiction of the devastation along the Rapenburg canal in Leiden, following a massive gunpowder explosion that shook the city.
Johannes Jelgerhuis, a Dutch painter and actor of the 19th century, created this oil painting in 1807. Titled "The Rapenburg in Leiden three Days after the Explosion of the Gunpowder-Ship on 12 January 1807," the work captures the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic event. It offers a somber depiction of the devastation along the Rapenburg canal in Leiden, following a massive gunpowder explosion that shook the city. This historical document is now held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting vividly portrays the extensive damage inflicted upon Leiden's urban landscape. Buildings along the Rapenburg canal appear partially collapsed, their walls shattered and debris strewn across the streets and waterway. Amidst this wreckage, figures navigate the rubble, some engaged in cleanup efforts or surveying the destruction. A distant church steeple stands as a stark contrast to the surrounding chaos, emphasizing the scale of the disaster.
Context
The artwork documents the aftermath of the Leiden gunpowder disaster, which occurred on January 12, 1807. A ship carrying 37,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded near the Rapenburg canal, causing immense destruction. The incident, one of the most severe in Dutch history, resulted in 151 fatalities, over 2,000 injuries, and the obliteration of more than 200 homes. The event prompted a visit from King Louis Bonaparte, who personally oversaw relief efforts.
History & Provenance
Johannes Jelgerhuis completed this oil painting in the same year as the disaster, 1807, suggesting a prompt artistic response to the tragic event. Its creation serves as a direct visual record of the destruction that befell Leiden. The artwork has since become part of the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is preserved as a significant historical and artistic testament to a pivotal moment in Dutch history.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes Jelgerhuis (1770 in Leeuwarden – 6 October 1836 in Amsterdam), was a 19th-century painter and actor from the Netherlands.
