Artwork
Den hollandske flåde under admiral Opdam passerer Sundet d. 29. oktober 1658 under Svenskekrigen 1657-60
Den hollandske flåde under admiral Opdam passerer Sundet d. 29. oktober 1658 under Svenskekrigen 1657-60 is an oil painting by the Realist artist Frederik Christian Lund. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This historical scene emphasizes naval dominance and national pride, reflecting 19th-century interpretations of 17th-century military events.
The painting portrays the Dutch fleet under Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam passing through the Sundet during the Second Northern War, featuring Swedish King Charles X Gustav and Kronborg Castle as symbolic elements of the conflict. This historical scene emphasizes naval dominance and national pride, reflecting 19th-century interpretations of 17th-century military events. The composition uses recognizable landmarks and figures to convey the strategic significance of the 1658 naval maneuver.
The work belongs to the history painting genre, underscoring its role in documenting and interpreting pivotal moments in Scandinavian history through artistic representation.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas in 1872, the work employs a layered, translucent handling typical of academic history painting to articulate the dense array of vessels and rigging.
The composition balances naturalistic detail with an elevated, panoramic viewpoint, emphasizing the disciplined procession of the Dutch fleet under Admiral Opdam. Clouds and sea are rendered with broad, controlled brushwork that modulates between crisp definition and atmospheric recession, while the ships’ hulls and flags receive tighter, almost miniaturist description.
Stylistically, the painting adheres to a restrained realism, avoiding dramatic chiaroscuro in favor of even illumination that situates the scene within an authentic historical record.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Frederik Christian Lund in 1872. It depicts the Dutch fleet under Admiral Opdam passing the Sound on October 29, 1658, during the Swedish War of 1657–60. The work is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 100 cm in height and 142 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
The painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is also located. The work depicts historical figures and locations including Charles X Gustav of Sweden, Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam, and Kronborg Castle within the context of a battle scene.
Overview
Frederik Christian Lund’s 1872 oil painting records a naval episode from the mid‑seventeenth century, when the Dutch fleet under Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam passed through the Øresund on 29 October 1658. Executed in a realist style, the work combines meticulous detail with a broad landscape that includes the silhouette of Kronborg Castle on the horizon.
Context
The depicted passage occurred during the Dano‑Swedish War, a period when control of the Øresund was crucial for trade and military movements. Kronborg Castle, a key fortification at the narrowest point of the strait, served both as a defensive stronghold and a symbol of Danish sovereignty.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frederik Christian Lund (14 February 1826 – 31 October 1901), commonly known as F. C. Lund, was a Danish genre and history painter. He is also remembered for his illustrations of traditional Danish regional costumes in the mid 19th century.
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