Artwork
Explosion at Antwerp of Dutch Gunboat No. 2, Commanded by Jan van Speyk, 5 February 1831
Explosion at Antwerp of Dutch Gunboat No. 2, Commanded by Jan van Speyk, 5 February 1831 is an oil painting by Martinus Schouman. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a combination of medium and support consistent with standard Dutch history painting practice of the period.
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a combination of medium and support consistent with standard Dutch history painting practice of the period. Classified as a history painting, it depicts the explosion of a gunboat, a dramatic maritime event that would have called for dynamic handling of paint to render smoke, fire, and water. The canvas measures 53 cm in height by 76 cm in width, a modest horizontal format suited to a narrative seascape or battle scene.
The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum as part of the collection Adriaan van der Hoop.
History & Provenance
The painting Explosion at Antwerp of Dutch Gunboat No. 2, Commanded by Jan van Speyk, 5 February 1831 was created in 1832 by Martinus Schouman as an oil on canvas history painting. It was commissioned by Adriaan van der Hoop, who retained ownership and kept the work in his collection. The artwork entered the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum collections, where it remains on display.
The canvas measures 53 cm in height and 76 cm in width, reflecting the dimensions recorded at inception.
The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it forms part of the collection originally assembled by Adriaan van der Hoop. This specific holding is documented within the Rijksmuseum's inventory of the van der Hoop bequest. The work is cataloged as an oil painting on canvas created in 1832.
No specific exhibition history or accession number is provided in the available sources. The sources confirm the location and the nature of the collection but do not list past or future exhibitions where the piece was displayed.
Overview
Martinus Schouman's 1832 oil painting, Explosion at Antwerp of Dutch Gunboat No. 2, Commanded by Jan van Speyk, 5 February 1831, captures a pivotal maritime event in a dramatic seascape. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the explosive demise of the Dutch Gunboat No. 2 under Commander Jan van Speyk during the Belgian Revolution. The contrast between the chaotic, flaming vessel and the serene, smoke-veiled Antwerp skyline suggests a narrative of both immediate danger and contained impact.
Context
The painting is set against the backdrop of the Belgian Revolution (1830-1831), where the explosion of the gunboat was a significant, symbolic act of resistance by Commander van Speyk against the Belgian forces.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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