54 - After Willem van de Velde the Younger,

After Willem van de Velde the Younger, Dutch 19th century- 'The BATTELLS One the 28th of May 1672' from The Battle of Solebay in Suffolk at the start of the third Anglo-Dutch war in 1672; chromolithograph on sheets of joined wove paper laid down on linen, with printed titled 'The BATTELLS One the 28th of May 1672' (upper centre), with further extensive printed inscriptions, 36.4 x 312 cm., (unframed). Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Note: The present work derives from a lithograph (in parts) from 'Drawings in the Possession of the Earl of Dartmouth illustrating Battles of the Third Dutch War', a total of 10 reproduction sheets published in a loose folio set by the Navy Records Society in 1908. The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has several complete sets - see, for example, no.PAJ0307-PAJ0325. The naval battle of Solebay took place in May/June1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The battle began as an attempted raid on Solebay port where an English fleet was anchored and largely unprepared for battle, and ended at a hard-fought draw. The battle however prevented a planned allied naval invasion of the Dutch Republic and boosted the morale of the Dutch population. Both sides claimed victory. Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) was present during the battle in a small boat. He made drawings that would go on to shape how the battle was perceived, and eventually inspire a series of giant tapestries depicting the course of the conflict.