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Notes
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This grisaille depicts the last battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War, 1652–1654, and is based on eyewitness sketches by the artist, who has interpreted it as a success for the Dutch. It was more widely regarded as a Dutch defeat, since they lost 15 ships. More disastrously, they also lost their leader, Lieutenant-Admiral Maerten Tromp. As a result the English were able to impose fairly harsh terms at the ensuing peace conference. Here the battle is shown towards its conclusion, and viewed from a high horizon as a continuous narrative, since several incidents which occurred at different times have been combined. The fleets are shown passing each other with the English mainly on the port tack and the Dutch on the starboard, heading for land.
In the distance on the far right are two Dutch ships: the 'Ster' and the 'Eendracht'. Beyond and to the left of these is the British commander, General-at-Sea George Monck, in the 'Resolution', flying the Commonwealth standard at the main. Also flying the red ensign at the fore, representing a signal for close action, she is just visible in the middle distance engaged in action with the Dutch 'Brederode', the flagship of the Dutch Commander-in-Chief, Maerten Tromp, still flying Tromp's flag even though by this stage in the battle he was dead.
In the left foreground is a galliot with several men on board, including the artist. He is the seated figure with his back to the viewer, wearing a hat, holding a drawing block and pencil, and looking towards the action on his right. Such a prominent position implies that he wished to be identified with the painting and the battle.
Title
The Battle of Scheveningen, 10 August 1653
Date
1655
Medium
oil on panel
Measurements
H 114.3 x W 156.2 cm
Accession number
BHC0277
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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