Artwork

The arrival of King Charles II of England in Rotterdam, 24 May 1660

The arrival of King Charles II of England in Rotterdam, 24 May 1660 is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Lieve Verschuier. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a work of marine and history painting, the subject centers on the monarch's return to England, a pivotal moment following the Restoration.

The painting depicts the historical event of King Charles II of England arriving in Rotterdam on 24 May 1660. As a work of marine and history painting, the subject centers on the monarch's return to England, a pivotal moment following the Restoration. The composition features the King aboard a boat in the harbor of Rotterdam, capturing the specific moment of his landing.

The artwork serves as a visual record of this significant political and dynastic transition, immortalizing the King's presence in the Dutch port city on the designated date.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a standard support for Dutch marine painters of the period. Classified within the genres of marine art and history painting, it depicts the arrival of Charles II of England in Rotterdam aboard a boat. The canvas measures 124 cm in height by 225 cm in width, a wide horizontal format well suited to the panoramic staging of a harbor scene with multiple vessels and a procession of figures.

The combination of oil paint on canvas and the broad aspect ratio is consistent with the conventions of seventeenth-century Dutch marine painting, allowing for detailed treatment of water, ships, and the assembled crowd along the quay.

History & Provenance

The painting was created in 1660, coinciding with the historical event it depicts, the arrival of Charles II of England in Rotterdam on 24 May 1660. It is attributed to Lieve Verschuier, a Dutch marine painter known for works documenting maritime and ceremonial occasions. The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it remains.

Measuring 124 cm in height and 225 cm in width, it is executed in oil on canvas. No specific exhibition history or prior ownership records are documented in the available sources.

Overview

Lieve Verschuier's oil painting, The arrival of King Charles II of England in Rotterdam, 24 May 1660, captures a significant historical moment from the year it was created. This marine scene depicts the English monarch's arrival in the Dutch port city, a pivotal event in the restoration of the English monarchy. The artwork is presently part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum, serving as a visual record of this important diplomatic and celebratory occasion.