Artwork
The skirmish of Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter against the duke of York, commanding the 'Royal Prince'during the Battle of Solebay, 7 June 1672: episode from the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74)
The skirmish of Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter against the duke of York, commanding the 'Royal Prince'during the Battle of Solebay, 7 June 1672: episode from the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Willem van de Velde the Younger. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By isolating this duel between commanders, the composition emphasizes the personal leadership and tactical drama inherent in seventeenth-century naval warfare.
This marine history painting depicts a specific naval engagement from the Third Anglo-Dutch War: the skirmish between Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter and the Duke of York, who commanded the ship 'Royal Prince' during the Battle of Solebay on June 7, 1672. The work functions as a visual record of this historical episode, focusing on the confrontation between the opposing flagships amidst the broader conflict. By isolating this duel between commanders, the composition emphasizes the personal leadership and tactical drama inherent in seventeenth-century naval warfare.
The depiction serves to commemorate the Dutch perspective of the battle, highlighting De Ruyter's role against the English fleet.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1691, this history painting by Willem van de Velde the Younger is rendered in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 112 cm in height and 182 cm in width. As a piece of marine art, the composition depicts the Battle of Solebay, featuring naval vessels engaged in combat.
The application of oil medium on canvas allows for the detailed portrayal of the maritime scene and the specific historical episode involving the Duke of York and Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter.
History & Provenance
Willem van de Velde the Younger executed this oil on canvas painting in 1691, depicting the naval engagement at the Battle of Solebay. The work measures 112 cm in height and 182 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was once owned by Gijsbert de Clercq.
Today, the painting forms part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum, where it is preserved as a significant example of marine art from the late seventeenth century.
Overview
Willem van de Velde the Younger completed this oil painting in 1696, portraying a naval clash that occurred on 7 June 1672 during the Battle of Solebay. The canvas captures the tumult of the encounter between the Dutch fleet under Admiral Michiel de Ruyter and the English forces led by the Duke of York aboard the flagship Royal Prince. It belongs to the Dutch Golden Age of painting and is presently housed in the Rijksmuseum.
Context
The Battle of Solebay marked the opening engagement of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, pitting the Dutch Republic against a combined English and French fleet. Van de Velde’s depiction aligns with contemporary Dutch efforts to record and celebrate naval engagements, serving both as a historical record and as a visual assertion of the Republic’s maritime resilience.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Willem van de Velde the Younger
Willem van de Velde the Younger (18 December 1633 (baptised) – 6 April 1707) was a Dutch painter who specialised in marine art.
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