St.Bavo saves Haarlem in 1274, painted in 1673, Reyer van Blommendael

Saint bavo scares off the kennemmers during their attack on haarlem in 1274. This painting depicts a haarlem legend dating from that time. It was painted in 1673 when stories about knights were very popular and haarlem was eager to show its patron saint as a courageous knight. This painting shows many similarities with the santiago matamoros legend, that gained popularity at about the same time. The painting was commissioned exactly 100 years after the siege of haarlem. The painting is not historically accurate, since haarlem was not a walled city until the late middle ages. The view shown of haarlem from the west is accurate for 1673 however. Object Type: painting. Date: 1673. Dimensions: height: 144 cm (56.6 in) ; width: 213 cm (83.8 in). Collection: Frans Hals Museum. St.Bavo saves Haarlem 1673