Thunderclap

Carel Pietersz. The world now knows him as

Fabritius. The carpenter. Even when he appeared

In Rembrandt’s studio in Amsterdam. Fabritius.

In a time when the Dutch painted prodigiously

his luminous canvas stood out with its cool colour harmonies.

And his modest subjects. The Sentry. The girl with broom.

And famously, the solitary gold finch on a chain. 

His first wife died in childbirth so Fabritius moved 

to Delft. Where his fame spread across Europe..

Then in October 1654, as his reputation was growing 

he was consumed by the Thunderclap. A local official 

set off a nearby gunpowder magazine. The blast

consumed a third of Delft. Hence, the Thunderclap.

It killed Fabritius, his assistant and a man sitting

for a portrait. It destroyed almost all his painted legacy.. 

Today just 12 Fabritius works can be identified. 

The man who rivalled his mentor Rembrandt 

is best known for his lonely, chained gold finch 

on tourist tea towels and posters. Like the Master,

unable to fly. Like Fabritius’s self portrait.  The

jaunty cap and stubble beard frozen for ages.