Artist and inventor Jan van der Heyden developed a revolutionary and improved fire hose in 1672 and improved the organisation of the fire brigade. As a result, fires were under control faster and did not have a chance to spread. In 1690, he and his son published their work Beschryving der nieuwlijks uitvinden en geoctrojeerde slang-brand-spuiten, en haare wyze van brand-blussen, tegenwoordig binnen Amsterdam in gebruik zijnde. In it, they had described the technological developments and all the fires that had occurred in Amsterdam since 1652. This work was richly illustrated with numerous prints showing the extinguishing of fires or the situation after the fire.
This drawing probably served as a sketch for a print in the book illustrating a fire extinguisher with a hose. Depicted in black chalk are the various steps by which the water was brought to the hose by means of buckets.

Specifications
Title | Studies of Fire Fighters |
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Material and technique | Black chalk |
Object type |
Drawing
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
Location | This object is in storage |
Dimensions |
Height 198 mm Width 278 mm |
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Artists |
Draughtsman:
Jan van der Heyden
|
Accession number | JvdH 1 di. (PK) |
Credits | Purchased 1871 |
Department | Drawings & Prints |
Acquisition date | 1871 |
Creation date | in circa 1680-1690 |
External exhibitions |
Amsterdam in vuur en vlam. De uitvindingen van Jan van der Heyden (1637-1712) (2023) |
Material | |
Object | |
Geographical origin | The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe |
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