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A panoramic view looking north across the Bay of Cadiz towards Rota. The painting commemorates an action which took place between the English and French and the Dutch after the end of the Third Dutch War, 1672–1674, but before the news of its cessation reached Cadiz. The two ships – the Dutch 'Schakerloo', 28 guns, and the British 'Tiger', 46 guns, under the command of Thomas Harman – anchored in the bay within hours of each other on 22 February. At about 9am on 23 February the 'Schakerloo', sailed out of neutral water followed by the 'Tiger'. In the fierce action, the 'Tiger's', superior fire-power meant that the Dutch ship eventually surrendered and de Witte was wounded. The English losses were very light, although Harman was slightly wounded and did not enjoy his triumph for long.
The action in the painting between the 'Tiger', and 'Schakerloo', is shown in four different stages. In the first, the two ships are seen in the centre of the painting running before the wind to the left, the Dutchman leading. Next, in the extreme left, they are shown in close action, in port-quarter view with the 'Tiger', to starboard. Beyond and to the right is the third phase, in which the 'Schakerloo', is shown at a disadvantage: she is still running to the left but the 'Tiger', is bow-on across her bows and raking her with gunfire. Finally, further off and to the right, the ships appear again with sails aback, in starboard-broadside view, the 'Schakerloo', having struck and flying the red ensign over her Dutch one.
This picture is one of a pair of large canvases apparently commissioned by Harman from Schellinks, who was in England in the 1660s. Daniel Schellinks (1627–1701) was the brother of the more famous Willem Schellinks (1623–1678), was a Dutch draughtsman and painter famous for panoramic compositions.
Title
HMS 'Tiger' Taking the 'Schakerloo' in the Harbour of Cadiz, 23 February 1674
Date
1675
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 187.9 x W 264.1 cm
Accession number
BHC0320
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting
