Celebration by Torchlight on the Oude Delft

In this nocturnal scene Van der Poel takes us to one of the best-known buildings in Delft: the Gemeenlandshuis (Communal Land House) of Delfland, illuminated by torches, with rich ornamentation and coats of arms above the entrance. This Late Gothic house was built in 1505 as a residence for the dikereeve and bailiff Jan de Huyter. In 1645 it became the seat of the board of the Hoogheemraadschap of Delfland. The building occupies a prominent place on Delft's oldest canal, the Oude Delft, just south of the Prinsenhof, the erstwhile Convent of Saint Agatha and residence of William the Silent until his assassination in 1584. On the right in the painting, behind the bridge, one can make out the tower of the Oude Kerk. In front of the Gemeenlandshuis a crowd has gathered, captivated by the spectacle of the blazing torches and the fireworks in the night sky. The torches are made from barrels filled with pitch or tar and mounted on poles. They were usually paid for by the town or by private individuals on the occasion of a festivity.

The painting is undated and contains no unambiguous indications of the nature of the event represented. Traditionally the picture has been interpreted as a depiction of the celebrations of the conclusion of the Treaty of Münster, which was signed on May 15, 1648. In honour of this momentous event the States General ordered a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing on June 5, the day of the official announcement.

Alternatively, it has been suggested that he scene shows the festivities on the occasion of the Hoogheemraadschap's installation in the Gemeenlandshuis in 1645. This interpretation explains the building's prominence in the painting, though such a well-known edifice may simply have provided Van der Poel with a readily identifiable Delft setting.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 18 minutes): Handel: Fireworks Music