The Battle of the Downs

The painting titled The Battle of the Downs was created in 1659 by Willem van de Velde the Elder. It is executed in oil on canvas and measures 124 cm in height by 190 cm in width. The work was commissioned to depict the naval clash of the Battle of the Downs and entered the collection of Cornelis Sebille Roos shortly after its completion. It was subsequently acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.

The Battle of the Downs is held in the Rijksmuseum's collection under inventory number SK-C-435. The work was created in 1659 by Willem van de Velde the Elder. It was originally owned by Cornelis Sebille Roos before entering the Rijksmuseum's possession.

The painting has been exhibited in the museum's history painting galleries as part of its marine art holdings.

Willem van de Velde the Elder’s 1659 oil on canvas, The Battle of the Downs, captures a turbulent naval clash from the First Anglo‑Dutch War. The composition fills the picture plane with a dense fleet of tall ships, their gun decks bristling with cannon, while billowing smoke and churning waves convey the immediacy of combat.

The Battle of the Downs was a decisive moment in the First Anglo‑Dutch War, marking a shift in naval dominance. Van de Velde’s depiction aligns with contemporary Dutch interests in maritime power and commerce, serving both as a historical document and as a visual celebration of the nation’s seafaring heritage.