1859
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The Prince of Orange, afterwards King William III, Embarking at Hellevoetsluis for England in 1688 is a 1859 oil by Everhardus Koster, a Biedermeier work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
You see a large sailing ship crowded with men in old-fashioned coats. The scene is busy but orderly. One man in a bright red coat stands out near the ship’s rail. This painting shows William III leaving the Netherlands in 1688. It’s a dramatic moment in history. Koster painted it before losing his right eye in 1859. See how the waves and sky frame the action. It feels like a real event, not just a story. Look up Koster, Everhardus to see more of his work.
The painting depicts a Dutch fleet of warships, state vessels, and wherries departing for England on a calm sea beneath a cloudy sky illuminated by golden sunlight. It portrays the embarkation of William III, Prince of Orange, during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The work follows the 17th-century Dutch maritime painting tradition, emphasizing large-scale compositions. It is paired with another painting as a pendant.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Everhardus Koster (17 February 1817, The Hague – 8 January 1892, Dordrecht) was a Dutch painter who specialized in sea and river scenes.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
