Artwork

The burning of the English fleet near Chatham, June 1667, during the second Anglo-Dutch war

The burning of the English fleet near Chatham, June 1667, during the second Anglo-Dutch war is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Willem Schellinks. It dates from 1672 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates the 1667 Raid on the Medway, showing English warships ablaze near Chatham as part of the second Anglo-Dutch War.

The painting illustrates the 1667 Raid on the Medway, showing English warships ablaze near Chatham as part of the second Anglo-Dutch War. It symbolizes Dutch naval triumph and the humiliation of England, emphasizing the strategic vulnerability of the English fleet. The composition focuses on burning vessels and smoke to convey destruction and chaos, reflecting contemporary interpretations of maritime dominance and national pride.

The work underscores themes of military power and geopolitical conflict, using visual drama to commemorate a pivotal Dutch victory.

The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection.

The painting measures 114.0 cm in height and 171.0 cm in width.

The painting is classified as a history painting.

The painting was created by Willem Schellinks in 1672.

The painting depicts a boat.

Technique & Style

Created in 1672, this history painting by Willem Schellinks is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 114 cm in height and 171 cm in width, presenting a substantial horizontal format typical for depicting large-scale naval engagements. As a history painting, the composition focuses on the dramatic depiction of the Raid on the Medway, utilizing the fluidity of oil to render the chaotic scene of burning ships and maritime conflict. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

History & Provenance

Willem Schellinks created this oil painting on canvas in 1672, depicting the Raid on the Medway. The work measures 114.0 cm in height and 171.0 cm in width. It is classified as a history painting and currently forms part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum.

Context

Willem Schellinks painted The burning of the English fleet near Chatham in 1672, depicting the Raid on the Medway during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The work measures 114 cm by 171 cm and is executed in oil on canvas. It is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection in Amsterdam, classified as a history painting.

Critical reception of the piece has focused on its dramatic portrayal of naval conflict and its place within the Dutch Golden Age's tradition of maritime historical painting.

Scholarship situates the work within Schellinks' broader oeuvre as a key example of 17th-century Dutch historical painting, reflecting contemporary interest in naval warfare narratives.

Legacy

Willem Schellinks' depiction of the 1667 Raid on the Medway influenced subsequent maritime historical painting through its dramatic portrayal of naval conflict and destruction. The work's composition and subject matter established a precedent for rendering large-scale fleet engagements in Dutch art, a legacy reflected in later 17th-century interpretations of naval warfare. Its reputation as a significant record of Anglo-Dutch tensions was reinforced by its inclusion in major collections, including the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the permanent display.

The painting's technical execution, with dimensions of 114 cm by 171 cm in oil on canvas, demonstrated the scale appropriate for history paintings, setting standards for ambitious maritime subjects in the period.

Overview

Willem Schellinks’ oil on canvas, executed in 1672, records the destruction of the English fleet anchored near Chatham in June 1667. Rendered as a history painting, the work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It presents a bustling harbor consumed by fire, with smoke and flame dominating the composition.