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A composition adapted from the painting of the Battle of the Texel, 1673, by Willem van de Velde the Younger, painted in 1687 (see BHC0315). In that painting the Dutch ship 'Gouden Leeuw', 80 guns, is shown firing at the British ship, 'Charles', 96 guns. The Battle of Texel was the last battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, 1672–1674. Although based closely on van de Velde's large painting, the central ship has been modified to become an English flagship by altering the flags. This distorts an already confused visual account since the positions of the ships in van de Velde's picture cannot be reconciled with either the written accounts or the drawings made of the battle by van de Velde the Elder. The red ensign differs from van de Velde's since it is of the post-1707 pattern with the St George's cross and St Andrew's cross superimposed on a blue ground in the upper quadrant. The sails of the central ship also have more holes to make it look as if the English have suffered more.
The artist was a clerk in the Admiralty with a keen interest in ships. By the age of 30 he is known to have been painting in oils.
Title
A Battle between English and Dutch Ships
Date
early 18th C
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 111.8 x W 188 cm
Accession number
BHC0984
Work type
Painting
