Arson Collection

EVNT2A-00183
British army burning the White House in 1814 during the War of 1812. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

The destruction of York Minster, 1829 (engraving)
3103693 The destruction of York Minster, 1829 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The destruction of York Minster, 1829)

The siege of Paris in 845 by the Vikings with Ragnar Lodbrok at their head
JLJ4641709 The siege of Paris in 845 by the Vikings with Ragnar Lodbrok at their head, Engraving 19th century by Unknown Artist

London Fire Brigade, second Brixton Riots
On 28 September 1985 the second Brixton riot erupted. After the arrest of a man following a shooting incident, a largely black crowd protested at Brixton Police station in Lambeth, South London

Witches destroying a house by fire - Swabia, 1533. Woodcut from Francesco Maria Guazzo Compendium Maleficarum, Milan, 1608. (Colorised black and white print)

Nottingham Castle on Fire, 10 October 1831, mid-19th century (oil on canvas)
3743748 Nottingham Castle on Fire, 10 October 1831, mid-19th century (oil on canvas) by Dawson, Henry (1811-78); 47x67.9 cm; Nottingham City Museums and Galleries (Nottingham Castle); (add.info)

War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Retreat of the British army of Concord
NWI4838748 War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Retreat of the British army of Concord, Massachusetts at the beginning of the war, 1775

Protesters burning 600 freight cars during the strikes at Pullman, Chicago, 1894
NWI4826799 Protesters burning 600 freight cars during the strikes at Pullman, Chicago, 1894. Colourful engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info)

Freight wagon and locomotive and a locomotive destroyed by demonstrators during the revolt (strives) of Pullman
NWI4827620 Freight wagon and locomotive and a locomotive destroyed by demonstrators during the revolt (strives) of Pullman, Chicago, 1894

Domestic accident, 19th century (Epinal print)
ELD4839868 Domestic accident, 19th century (Epinal print); Private Collection; (add.info.: Domestic accident: disobedient children playing with matches during their parents absence, causing fire)

Fire of the Nicomedia Palace under the regne of Constance II during the great earthquake of 258
ELD4963481 Fire of the Nicomedia Palace under the regne of Constance II during the great earthquake of 258 (Earthquake in Nicomedia in 358)

United States, Illinois: Terrified inhabitants fleeing Wells Street during the Chicago fire in 1871
NWI4965384 United States, Illinois: Terrified inhabitants fleeing Wells Street during the Chicago fire in 1871. Colour engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: United States)

United States, Illinois: Camp for victims of the Chicago fire at Lake Michigan near Lincoln Park, 1871
NWI4965365 United States, Illinois: Camp for victims of the Chicago fire at Lake Michigan near Lincoln Park, 1871. Colour engraving of the 19th century; (add.info.: United States)

The escape of settlers families during a forest fire in Maine, circa 1850. 19th century lithography
NWI4966455 The escape of settlers families during a forest fire in Maine, circa 1850. 19th century lithography.; (add.info.: The escape of settlers families during a forest fire in Maine, circa 1850)

War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Destruction of Falmouth (Portland)
NWI4842017 War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Destruction of Falmouth (Portland, Maine) by fire of the artillery of the English ships, October 1775

War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Mrs Motte helped the American army burn his
NWI4841297 War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Mrs Motte helped the American army burn his English-occupied house in South Carolina, 1781

A sailor saves a woman and her children from the fire of a steamboat, 1887 (illustration)
ELD4834500 A sailor saves a woman and her children from the fire of a steamboat, 1887 (illustration); Private Collection; (add.info)

William I conquering him during the assault and capture of Mantes, July 1087 - William (1027-1087)
ELD4873423 William I conquering him during the assault and capture of Mantes, July 1087 - William (1027-1087) Duke of Normandy and King of England from 1066 until his death

Illustration of Riou for Alexandre Dumas's novel "The leader of wolves": Thibault
PCT4294492 Illustration of Riou for Alexandre Dumas's novel "The leader of wolves": Thibault, surrounded by the pack of wolves

Secession War (1861-1865): Hampton Roads naval battle. The American Fregate "Merrimac" on fire during
NWI4829633 Secession War (1861-1865): Hampton Roads naval battle. The American Fregate "Merrimac" on fire during the fire of the Confederates of Gosport Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia

The Secession War or American Civil War, 1861-1865: Citizens regroups to Capitol Square during the fire of Richmond
NWI4829622 The Secession War or American Civil War, 1861-1865: Citizens regroups to Capitol Square during the fire of Richmond (Virginia)

First World War: Patriotic Map showing France whispering to a guard soldier in front of a flame landscape "
LUX4744091 First World War: Patriotic Map showing France whispering to a guard soldier in front of a flame landscape " Revenge of Brothers, Gloriously Falls for Humanity"

Duties to the neighbour: Devouement - Sacrifice. A man saving a child from the flames at the peril of his life
DUV4212823 Duties to the neighbour: Devouement - Sacrifice. A man saving a child from the flames at the peril of his life

Daniel Masere's original suspension pulley and fire escape machine simplified by Mr
FLO4591200 Daniel Masere's original suspension pulley and fire escape machine simplified by Mr. Forster, painter's easel and indigo mills

The Moscow fire from September 14 to 18, 1812, the Muscovites burned the capital so that it would not fall into
JAB4120647 The Moscow fire from September 14 to 18, 1812, the Muscovites burned the capital so that it would not fall into the hands of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte watching the Fire of Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, 1812
FLO4608620 Napoleon Bonaparte watching the Fire of Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, 1812. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by George Cruikshank from The Life of Napoleon a Hudibrastic Poem by

Gaucho cowboys of the Tucuman, River Plate, Argentina. They wear striped ponchos and trousers, long hair in fur hats
FLO4621709 Gaucho cowboys of the Tucuman, River Plate, Argentina. They wear striped ponchos and trousers, long hair in fur hats, carve wood with knives, while resting near their wagons

First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a drawing representing the superiority of French weapons, 1915
LUX4740584 First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a drawing representing the superiority of French weapons, 1915, Map titled: Revenge of Our Weapons; (add.info)

First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a French soldier rescuing a child picks up in a pit titled " a good
LUX4743166 First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a French soldier rescuing a child picks up in a pit titled " a good heart"", 1917

France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): Paris Commune, photograph of a drawing depicting the fire of a Paris hotel, 1871
LUX4710222 France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): Paris Commune, photograph of a drawing depicting the fire of a Paris hotel, 1871; (add.info.: France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): Paris Commune

File cutting equipment and various filters. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J
FLO4591225 File cutting equipment and various filters. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J. Farey from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts

A fireman extinguishes a fire, 19th century (Epinal print)
ELD4839859 A fireman extinguishes a fire, 19th century (Epinal print); Private Collection; (add.info.: A fireman extinguishes a fire. Epinal print 19th century); Photo © The Holbarn Archive.

War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Attack by the continental army led by General George
NWI4843097 War of Independence of the United States of America (1775-1783): Attack by the continental army led by General George Washington at the house of Judge Chew at the Battle of Germantown

Fighting at the Turkish border - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1912 (engraving)
ICA4950228 Fighting at the Turkish border - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1912 (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © Caricadoc.

France, Pays de la Loire, Sarthe (72), Le Mans: Exercise firefighters, 1900
LUX4767006 France, Pays de la Loire, Sarthe (72), Le Mans: Exercise firefighters, 1900; (add.info.: France, Pays de la Loire, Sarthe (72), Le Mans: Exercise firefighters

France, Pays de la Loire, Sarthe (72), Le Mans: Fire fighters at the excercice, 1900
LUX4766997 France, Pays de la Loire, Sarthe (72), Le Mans: Fire fighters at the excercice, 1900; (add.info.: France, Pays de la Loire, Sarthe (72), Le Mans: Fire fighters at the excercice

Battle of Fort Alamo on March 6, 1836 during the revolution of Texas against the Republic of Mexico
NWI4967433 Battle of Fort Alamo on March 6, 1836 during the revolution of Texas against the Republic of Mexico.; (add.info.: Battle of Fort Alamo on March 6)

A thatched house by William Bradford (1590-1657), burned in the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts, circa 1620
NWI4966342 A thatched house by William Bradford (1590-1657), burned in the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts, circa 1620. 19th century lithography.; (add.info)

Secession War, United States: Confederates of Quantrill raid burning Lawrence, Kansas, 1863
NWI4959530 Secession War, United States: Confederates of Quantrill raid burning Lawrence, Kansas, 1863. 19th century colour engraving; (add.info.: Secession War)

Loth's wife is transformed into a statue of salt, after turning around to see the destruction of Sodom (Israel)
NWI4916080 Loth's wife is transformed into a statue of salt, after turning around to see the destruction of Sodom (Israel)

Siege of a city with the war machine - in " Chronicle" by Othon de Freising, 12th century
GIA5036476 Siege of a city with the war machine - in " Chronicle" by Othon de Freising, 12th century.; (add.info)

Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821) rescuing Marie Louise (1791-1847) from the flames during the great fire of the Austrian
ELD4897758 Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821) rescuing Marie Louise (1791-1847) from the flames during the great fire of the Austrian Embassy in Paris on 1 July 1810

Engraved reproduction of "The fire of the village" showing the citizens of Rome fleeing the burning city
NWI4857492 Engraved reproduction of "The fire of the village" showing the citizens of Rome fleeing the burning city

Boston firefighter using a water lance to quench a huge fire in the 1870s, Massachusetts, USA
NWI4827282 Boston firefighter using a water lance to quench a huge fire in the 1870s, Massachusetts, USA. Colour engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info)

United States, State of Virginia: Rebellion of Nathaniel Bacon burning the city of Jamestown, Virginia, 1676
NWI4967548 United States, State of Virginia: Rebellion of Nathaniel Bacon burning the city of Jamestown, Virginia, 1676. Colour engraving of the 19th century; (add.info.: United States)

Train crossing a burning forest west of the United States (Rocky Mountains), years 1890
NWI4963670 Train crossing a burning forest west of the United States (Rocky Mountains), years 1890. Engraving after a 19th century illustration; (add.info)

Prehistoire, fire of a lake village. Engraving 1877
JAB4121656 Prehistoire, fire of a lake village. Engraving 1877; (add.info.: Prehistoire, fire of a lake village. Engraving 1877); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis.

Fire! to the fire! (Fire! fire) Fire in Venice Painting by Leonardo Bazzaro (1853-1937) Private Collection
QUA5035830 Fire! to the fire! (Fire! fire) Fire in Venice Painting by Leonardo Bazzaro (1853-1937) Private Collection; (add.info.: Fire! to the fire! (Fire)

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"From Ancient Vikings to Modern Movements: A Fiery History of Arson" Arson, a destructive force that has plagued humanity throughout the ages, leaves behind a trail of devastation and chaos. In 845, the siege of Paris by the Vikings under Ragnar Lodbrok's leadership ignited fear and destruction in its wake (EVNT2A-00183). Centuries later, London Fire Brigade battled against flames during the second Brixton Riots, witnessing firsthand the havoc they are wreak. Throughout history, various motives have fueled this dangerous act. In Swabia, 1533, witches used fire to destroy houses as part of their malevolent practices. Similarly, Nottingham Castle became engulfed in flames on October 10th, 1831 (mid-19th century), leaving behind an eerie scene captured on canvas and has been employed as a tool for political expression and social change. The mob's burning of abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy's print-shop in Illinois in 1835 showcased how deeply rooted prejudices could lead to violent acts. Suffragette activists took up arson as a means to fight for women's rights at Rivington Pike. Yet even before recorded history began shaping our worldviews, fire played a significant role. Engravings from "La nature et l'homme" by Rengade depict prehistoric stilt-house settlements ablaze during conflicts at the dawn of the Iron Age—an early testament to mankind's capacity for destruction. Artistic interpretations further highlight society's fascination with arson throughout time. Paintings like "The Destruction of York Minster" (1829) or "The Chain" (1870) capture both historical events and symbolic representations—reminders that fire possesses both creative and destructive powers.