A View of ye Grand Theatre & Fireworks erected on ye Water near ye Court at ye Hague (on Occasion of ye General Peace concluded at Aix la Chapelle. Oct. 18. 1748) & Exhibited June 13, 1749 1794

Robert Laurie's "A View of ye Grand Theatre & Fireworks erected on ye Water near ye Court at ye Hague" (1794) depicts a celebration of the General Peace concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. The detailed engraving, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, captures the architectural grandeur of the temporary stage, surrounded by brightly colored fireworks exploding over the water. The scene is full of activity as boats filled with people, some holding torches, move around the platform, creating a sense of joyous festivity. Laurie's work serves as a historical record of this significant event, a moment of celebration and a testament to the artistry of pyrotechnics.