The Battle of the Sound, 8 November 1658

Image credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

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When Sweden attacked Denmark and occupied both sides of the Sound it brought Dutch Baltic trade to a standstill. The Dutch sent a fleet to the Baltic under Lieutenant-Admiral Jan van Wassenaer to protect their trade routes from the Swedes, who were besieging Copenhagen. The Dutch victory at the battle forced the Swedish fleet to withdraw from Copenhagen and the siege of the city by land was abandoned. The painting shows a view of the end of the battle and, since the artist was present, it can be regarded as an eyewitness interpretation. The 'Eendracht', with a lion and a seated figure of Hollandia within a fence on her stern, is in action with a Swedish ship believed to be the 'Merkurius', and on the far left is the 'Rotterdam', bearing the arms of Orange with lion supporters on the stern.

National Maritime Museum

London

Title

The Battle of the Sound, 8 November 1658

Date

c.1660

Medium

oil & grisaille on canvas

Measurements

H 96.5 x W 139.7 cm

Accession number

BHC0280

Work type

Painting

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