Prospects of London Before and After the Great Fire

About this artwork

Wenceslaus Hollar's *Prospects of London Before After the Great Fire*1666) is a masterful panoramic etching that captures the dramatic transformation of London in the wake of one of history's most devastating urban disasters. This second-state impression, from two joined plates measuring over 26 inches wide, juxtaposes the densely packed medieval skyline before the fire—dominated by timber-framed buildings and the spires of Old St. Paul's Cathedral—with the smoldering ruins afterward, including the gutted remnants along the River Thames. Hollar, a Bohemian-born artist renowned for his meticulous topographical views, created this print mere months after the blaze, making it an invaluable eyewitness record. The Great Fire of 1666 ravaged over 13,000 houses and 87 churches across the city from September 2 to 6, fueled by dry timber and strong winds. Hollar's work not only documents this catastrophe but also foreshadows Christopher Wren's visionary rebuilding, blending precise observation with subtle artistry. As an etching, it showcases Hollar's virtuoso technique: fine, controlled lines that convey texture, depth, and atmospheric haze, evoking both the bustling pre-fire vitality and post-fire desolation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this print highlights the power of printmaking to preserve history. Visitors are drawn to its split vista, a poignant reminder of resilience amid loss, inviting reflection on how fire reshaped a metropolis into the London we know today.