Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)
Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War
Battle of the Downs, 1639
PUGNA NAVALIS QUA HISPANOS VICÊRE BELGÆ FŒDERATI IN DUINS ANGLIÆ ANNO CIƆ IƆ CXXXIX
1639 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges left, top and right | 37.5 x 51.6 cm (image) | RCIN 722147
A middle oblique view of the naval Battle of the Downs, fought on 21 October 1639 between the Dutch fleet, commanded by Admiral Martin Harpertszoon Tromp (23 April 1598-10 August 1653) and Admiral Witte Corneliszoon de With (28 March 1599-8 November 1658), and the Spanish, commanded by Antonio de Oquendo (October 1577-7 June 1640), resulting in a Dutch victory. Eighty Years War (1568-1648). Oriented with west to top.
Attributed to Schut, Pieter Hendricksz (1618/19-1660) (engraver)
Claes Jansz Visscher II (c.1587-1652) (publisher) [bottom right, inside neatline:] CJ Visscher Excudebat
Watermark: None visible
Condition: heavy brown discolouration; small hole, top left. Offsetting from a different print [RCIN 722146.a] is visible, bottom centre of verso, which is the poem below the view
37.5 x 51.6 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
33.6 x 51.6 cm (neatline)
37.7 x 51.8 cm (sheet) (whole object)
39.5 x 53.6 cm (mount)
Printed title:
PUGNA NAVALIS QUA HISPANOS VICÊRE BELGÆ FŒDERATI IN DUINS ANGLIÆ ANNO CIƆ IƆ CXXXIX. [below view]
Additional text:
[bottom, below view, following title, a poem in four verses. Text begins:] T'is inde wint gedorst, op s'menschen macht te bouwen …
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement in the Downs 21-22 Oct.r 1639.
Other annotations: (Recto) [top left, black pencil:] 1639. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Pugna Navalis qua Hispanos vicere Belgæ Fœderati in Duins Angliæ, 21 et 22 octobris 1639.
Subject(s)
The Downs, England (51°14ʹ00ʺN 01°26ʹ00ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
K. G. Boon and G. S. Keyes, Salomon Savery to Gillis van Schneydel, Amsterdam 1980, p. 15, cat. no. 17
D. de Hoop Scheffer and C. Schuckman, ‘Claes Jansz. Vischer to Claes Claesz Visscher II (Nicolaes Visscher II)’, Hollstein’s Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts 1450-1700, XXXVIII, Rotterdam 1991, p. 57, no. 89
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3064
F. Muller De Nederlandsche geschiedenis in platen … vol.1, Amsterdam 1863-1882, p. 252, no.1810
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
