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 VICERE BELGÆ FŒDERATI IN DUINS ANGLIÆ ANNO CIƆ IƆC XXXIX
1654 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; gilt edges left, top and right | 39.4 x 51.8 cm (image) | RCIN 722146.a
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.
The explanatory letterpress text with a key to the letters on the view is at RCIN 722146.b.
Another example of this copy, which was possibly made in the 1670s, is in the Rijksmuseum (RP-P-OB-81.462).
Frederick de Wit was nine years old when the Battle of the Downs took place. He opened his first shop in 1654 and so this print is likely to have been made in that year or later.
Frederick de Wit (1629/30-1706) (publisher) [bottom right of accompanying letterpress text (RCIN 722146.b):] t’AMSTERDAM. / Voor Frederick de Wit, woonende in de Calver-straet.
Watermark: None visible
Condition: one fold line; heavy brown discolouration; 2.0 cm tear to bottom left edge; remains of old guard or mount on verso of bottom edge
39.4 x 51.8 cm (image)
[cropped] x 52.3 cm (platemark)
40.0 x 53.6 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
PUGNA NAVALIS QUA HISPANOS VICERE BELGÆ FŒDERATI IN DUINS ANGLIÆ ANNO CIƆ IƆC XXXIX. [below view]
Additional text:
[bottom, below view, following title, a poem in four verses. Text begins:] Ziet hier de Spaensche vloot die door des Heeren seegen / Van Twaallef schepen wiert beuochten, en gejaeght ….
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement in the Downs 21-22 Oct.r 1639.
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement Pugna Navalis qua Hispanos vicere Belgæ Fœderati in Duins Angliæ, 21 et 22 Octobris 1639: cum Descriptione, apud F. de Wit. [The same entry appears under the heading Downs]
Subject(s)
The Downs, England (51°14ʹ00ʺN 01°26ʹ00ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
I. van Eeghen, 'Frederick de Wit, Amsterdams uitgever' in Sijmons and Aertsz.’, in Colom's Kaart van Holland 1681, Alphen a/d Rijn 1990, p. 12
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3061
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
