Félix Vanden Eycken, the Fire at the Coudenberg Palace, Brussels, 1731- Antique Oil Painting

This dramatic mid-19th-century oil painting by Belgian painter Félix Vanden Eycken (fl. 1846-1873) depicts the catastrophic fire that destroyed Brussels' magnificent Coudenberg Palace on the night of 3-4 February 1731. It's a scene of extraordinary theatre.

Beneath a sky thick with smoke, flames roar through the palace buildings while a desperate cast of townspeople, guards and firefighters battles to contain the blaze. Men haul equipment across the courtyard, horses strain against heavily laden carts, and figures dart between the shadows, carrying whatever they can salvage. At the centre of the spectacle, a great jet of water sweeps gracefully towards the flames. It's an almost heroic gesture, yet pitifully inadequate against the raging inferno.

The disaster itself was every bit as chaotic as Vanden Eycken's interpretation suggests…

The fire began around midnight, apparently in the private apartments of Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria, Governor-General of the Austrian Netherlands. Bitterly cold weather hampered the firefighting efforts, while the strict rules of court etiquette reportedly prevented rescuers from immediately entering her rooms. According to historical accounts, a grenadier eventually forced his way inside and brought the Archduchess to safety.

Meanwhile, the flames spread rapidly through the ancient palace, which had served generations of European rulers, including Emperor Charles V. By morning, much of the complex lay in ruins.

Curiously, an official investigation blamed the disaster on kitchen staff preparing preserves for an approaching royal ball! Later historical research, however, has cast considerable doubt on this convenient explanation, suggesting that the fire originated much closer to the Archduchess herself.

Vanden Eycken brings the catastrophe to life with the instincts of a theatrical director. The illuminated architecture forms an imposing stage, while the tiny figures below enact countless individual dramas. Some fight, some flee, and others appear almost overwhelmed by the spectacle. Towering above them all, the palace's great column of smoke rises into the darkness.

The Coudenberg was never rebuilt. Its ruins stood for decades before being cleared to make way for the elegant Place Royale, leaving this once-grand residence to survive chiefly through historical records and images.

Signed in the lower left and held within a decorative gilt frame.

Learn more about Félix Vanden Eycken in our directory.

Medium

Oil on canvas.

Overall size

37” x 29” / 95cm x 74cm

Year of creation

c. 1850

Provenance

Private collection, Belgium.

Conservation

Professionally conserved, including careful cleaning to reveal the painting’s true colouring and remove accumulated surface grime that can be harmful over time. A protective layer of conservation varnish has also been applied.

Condition

Craquelure throughout, the paint layer is stable. One tidy patched repair. Frame showing some minor marks and wear consistent with age and use.

Our reference

BRV2394