The English and Dutch fleets on the day after the Battle of Solebay, 1672

This drawing was executed at around midday on the day following the Battle of Solebay, as the English and French tried to come up with the Dutch and before the fog came down at three o'clock and prevented an engagement. The van of the Dutch fleet is viewed from the lee bow, in a breeze, close-hauled on the port tack. In the left centre foreground, Vice-Admiral Cornelis Evertsen is visible and is accompanied by the following inscription: 'visdr cornels Everts van /zeelant'. There are about eleven ships of his division windward of him, extending across the right half of the drawing, including the 'Gelderland' ('gelderlant van westvrielant') and the 'Oudshoorn', the former English ship 'Swiftshore' ('houtshoorn /houtshoorn eerst de swifsuiee'). In Evertsen's wake is the Rear-Admiral Jan Mathijszen ('Jan tijsen schout bij nacht/ van zeelant') with two ships on his lee beam and one to windward. Directly astern of Mathijszen and well in the background is Banckert ('banckert'), the admiral of the van, with several of his ships near to him. The Dutch flags in the far distance have been identified as follows, from left to right: Bruynsvelt ('bruisvelt'), Doedes Star ('Eno doedes'), Aert van Nes ('van nes'), with Sweers ('sweers') and Van Ghent's ship ('van gent') both well astern of the others, De Ruyter ('riujter') De Liefde ('liefde') and Jan van Nes ('jan van nes'). The Allied fleet flying the signal for the order of battle is shown in line ahead to windward of the Dutch, extending from the background on the right of the drawing to the horizon in the centre. The French squadron is in the van ('begint het franse esquadre'); Spragge ('sprag') comes next, followed by the Duke of York. Van de Velde depicts his own galjoot, identified by the inscription 'velden' in the right foreground with two other galjoots, all with their mainsails brailed up. Astern of van de Velde is a Dutch ship in the wind with her ensign stuck.
Willem van de Velde, the Elder

Original size: 680 mm x 2220 mm