The explosion of the powder magazine in Delft, 12 October 1654

The Explosion of the Powder Magazine in Delft, 12 October 1654, by Egbert Lievensz. van der Poel, 1654-1660. On Monday 12 October 1654, at eleven-thirty in the morning, 90,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded at the powder magazine in Delft. Among the hundreds who died was Van der Poel's own daughter, Lysbeth. Most of the pictures Van der Poel (1621-1664) painted after that were nocturnal scenes of fire and smoke. The explosion took place in the northwest of the city. In the background, from left to right: the New Church, the town-hall tower and the Old Church.