Marcus Willemsz Doornick (1633-1703)

A True Portrait with a brief Description of that deplorable Fire of London...

Published, Marcus Willemsz Doornick, Amsterdam, ca. 1666

Broadside with large copper-engraving, letterpress descriptions in Dutch, French & English in 4 columns below

Sight size 19 5/8 x 20 5/8"

Rare and Beautiful Contemporary Birds-Eye View Of The Devastating Fire Of London. The vantage point is the relative safety of the south bank of the Thames, looking north over Southwark Cathedral and the Globe Theater, over the old London Bridge to the city of London in flames. Huge clouds of smoke billow out, nearly obscuring the sun. A key to the major London landmarks is provided in Dutch. It has accounts of the Great Fire in Dutch, French and English. Not all the facts are correct. It claims the fire fell on September 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 (the real dates are September 2 - 6). This may reflect the delay between the event and when information began to spread. It is one of many foreign reports of the fire and shows the international interest the disaster generated. The broadside references the fact that some Dutch and French were arrested in London on suspicion of arson. Ironically, the financial damage of the fire was so great that it emptied the coffers of King Charles II and he was forced to make peace with the Dutch and the French within the year.