William Sadler II (1782-1839) Fire at the Royal Arcade, College Green, Dublin (1837) Oil on panel, 33 x 51cm (13 x 20'') Inscribed on fragment of label verso In 1819 a new shopping arcade was...

William Sadler II (1782-1839) Fire at the Royal Arcade, College Green, Dublin (1837) Oil on panel, 33 x 51cm (13 x 20'') Inscribed on fragment of label verso In 1819 a new shopping arcade was built to connect College Green with Suffolk Street at a cost of ?16,000 consisting of a number of small attractive shops. The arcades cast iron gates were closed each evening at 10.00. In the early hours of the 24th April 1837 clouds of smoke billowed forth from each end and fire then spread quickly from shop to shop. The roof had caught fire by the time the first of the fire brigades had arrived. The fire engines were manned by civilians and soldiers assisted by insurance crews. The crew from Trinity drew much praise. As the roof crashed down fire spread to the Royal Hotel and other adjacent premises and soon four premises in Suffolk Street together with the hotel and three premises on College Green were burning shells which were pulled down by the artillery regiment who were in attendance for fear of collapse. The extent of damage caused was blamed on the Corporation of Dublin for the lack of water and fire plugs. A slightly smaller example called ''The burning of Holmes Emporium'' is in the collection of The National Gallery of Ireland (Ref 1827).

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