Artwork
Exchange of Fire on the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas

Exchange of Fire on the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jonas Zeuner. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject reflects the localized impact of late-eighteenth-century European warfare, possibly tied to the Patriot–Orangist struggles in the Dutch Republic.
The work depicts a riverbank skirmish along the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas, showing armed figures exchanging gunfire beside a house and trees. The scene captures a moment of violent confrontation in an otherwise tranquil riverside setting, emphasizing the abrupt intrusion of conflict into civilian space.
The subject reflects the localized impact of late-eighteenth-century European warfare, possibly tied to the Patriot–Orangist struggles in the Dutch Republic. Rendered in verre églomisé, the reflective glass intensifies the immediacy of the episode, merging the depicted action with the viewer’s space.
Technique & Style
Jonas Zeuner executed Exchange of Fire on the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas in 1787 using the technique of verre églomisé. This medium involves painting on the reverse side of glass, a method distinct from traditional oil on canvas or panel. The work measures 27 cm in height and 33 cm in width.
Stylistically, the piece functions as a painting that depicts specific landscape elements, including a house and a tree, rendered through this specialized glass-painting process.
History & Provenance
Jonas Zeuner created the verre églomisé painting titled Exchange of Fire on the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas in 1787. The work was produced during the late eighteenth century and currently resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. No specific details regarding the original commission, subsequent ownership transfers, or the full chain of custody prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
The piece is classified as a painting and depicts a scene featuring a house and trees along the waterway.
The painting Exchange of Fire on the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas by Jonas Zeuner is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Created in 1787, the work is executed in verre églomisé and measures 27 cm in height by 33 cm in width. The provided sources identify the artist, date, medium, dimensions, and current institutional location but do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers for the piece. Additionally, the available documentation offers no details regarding the artwork's exhibition history or past loans.
Overview
Created in 1794, Exchange of Fire on the Vaartse Rijn near Jutphaas is a small, highly finished work executed in the verre églomisé technique. The German‑born artist Jonas Zeuner, who worked in the Dutch Republic, rendered a brief military encounter along a canal, juxtaposing a smoky battlefield with a tranquil domestic scene beyond a line of trees. The piece belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Context
The painting emerges at a time when the Dutch Republic was experiencing political upheaval and military tension, especially during the French Revolutionary Wars. Zeuner’s choice of a canal scene near Jutphaas situates the conflict within a familiar Dutch landscape, linking the national terrain to broader European conflicts of the era.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jonas Zeuner (Kassel 1727–1814), was an artist and engraver. Zeuner arrived in Amsterdam around 1750 although his first recorded work dates from after 1770. He perfected techniques for engraving in gold and silver leaf,…












