Jan van Speyk steekt de lont in het kruit, 5 februari 1831 — Jacobus Schoemaker Doyer

Jacobus Schoemaker Doyer. Painted 1831 - 1850.

Van Speyk putting the Spark to the Tinder on his Ship, 5 February 1831, by J. Schoemaker Doyer, c. 1834. During the Belgian revolution Jan C.J. van Speyk (1802 - 1831) was given command of a Dutch gunboat. Caught in a storm, the ship ended up against the banks of the Scheldt in Antwerp where it was overwhelmed by a crowd of Belgians. Van Speyk blew his ship up: he and his fellow officers had sworn an oath never to let their ship fall into the hands of the enemy undamaged. Almost all the crew, including Van Speyk, as well as several Belgians died in the explosion. Van Speyk's embalmed remains were solemnly interred in the New Church in Amsterdam in May 1832. He was honoured as a national hero. Schoemaker Doyer based his work on an eyewitness account.

From the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

panel, oil paint (paint) · Original size: 20.2 × 25.4 cm · On loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest)

Print: 21 × 26.4 cm, printed on Hahnemühle FineArt archival cotton paper. Museum-grade reproduction quality, true to the colours and detail of the original work.

Frame (optional): a custom-made wooden frame in a matte black finish, cut to the exact dimensions of this print, with an off-white passe-partout mat and protective glazing. Ready to hang.

Source: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20029047. Image released under CC0 by the Rijksmuseum.