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Notes
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When Sweden attacked Denmark and occupied both sides of the Sound it brought Dutch Baltic trade to a standstill. The Dutch sent a fleet to the Baltic under Lieutenant-Admiral Jan van Wassenaer to protect their trade routes from the Swedes, who were besieging Copenhagen. The Dutch victory at the battle forced the Swedish fleet to withdraw from Copenhagen and the siege of the city by land was abandoned. The painting shows a view of the end of the battle and, since the artist was present, it can be regarded as an eyewitness interpretation. The 'Eendracht', with a lion and a seated figure of Hollandia within a fence on her stern, is in action with a Swedish ship believed to be the 'Merkurius', and on the far left is the 'Rotterdam', bearing the arms of Orange with lion supporters on the stern.
In the centre middle distance is the Dutch ship 'Halve Maan' and on her starboard bow is the 'Krona'. In the right background is the Swedish commander-in-chief, Karl Gustaf Wrangel, in the 'Viktoria', shown heading towards Kronborg having been damaged early in the battle. On the right is the burnt-out hulk of a small vessel, probably a fireship, and a Swedish ship which has lost her foremast. Close by is the sinking 'Morgentsjarna' with figures leaping or sliding down rigging into the water. In the water sailors are shown using a boat hook to help hoist them into the small boat.
The towers of Kronburg can be seen beyond the ships in the far distance. Since this an eyewitness account, van de Velde's depiction of figures desperately jumping off sinking ships and of the gestures of those in the small boats is particularly moving and eloquent, demonstrating the level of terror experienced by the sailors and observed by the artist.
Title
The Battle of the Sound, 8 November 1658
Date
c.1660
Medium
oil & grisaille on canvas
Measurements
H 96.5 x W 139.7 cm
Accession number
BHC0280
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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