This night scene allows van Eertvelt to demonstrate his artistic and dramatic skills. Against bright moonlight, a Spanish fleet prepares to leave, embarking from an imaginary Mediterranean coast. On the right the mountainous landscape rises from water-level, stretching into the distance. Trees and buildings seem only just to catch the moonlight and emerge from the dark. The strikingly large silhouettes of the ships loom across the water, lit from behind by the full moon. These include large men-of-war in stern-view on the right and in the centre, as well as a large galley in the left foreground. The brushstrokes are sketchy in some places, and contrast with glimpses of careful detail in the ships and the strong red highlights, particularly on the oars of the galley, that seem to emerge from the canvas. There is an overall effect of enveloping night and darkness. The decks are populated by myriad figures, with soldiers being ferried to the large ships. In the dramatically torch-lit right foreground, officers accompanied by a large train of followers, including ladies, musicians and soldiers bearing flags and weapons, take their leave.