Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)
Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War
Naval engagement in the Roadstead of the Downs, 1639
Vera et Exacta Delineatio, Classium Hispanicæ, Anglicæ, et Hollandicæ, prout in Freto Brittanico iuxta Dealam Castrum et Sandvicum, in primo congressu, ante prelium se ostenderunt...
1639 or laterEtching and engraving; printed from three copperplates on three sheets of paper, joined; mounted on paper. | 20.3 x 115.0 cm (image) | RCIN 722142.a
A view of the Action of 18 September, (18-21 September 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), with no decisive result. Eighty Years War (1568-1648). Oriented with east to top.
A long narrow view with, left, a portrait of Admiral Tromp and right, a portrait of Admiral de With and, below left, a shield with the Dutch lion and to the right, the arms of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (29 January 1584-14 March 1647).
This action was a preliminary to the Battle of the Downs which took place on 21 October. This view is taken from the English coast, with Deal in the left foreground, Deal Castle in the centre, Sandown Castle to the right with the cliffs of Dover beyond. Both Boll and Hollar were in England at the time of this event and one or both may have witnessed the action.
The Spanish fleet had intended to anchor in the roadstead of the Downs under cover of English neutrality, in order to ferry supplies for the Spanish army in the Netherlands across the channel to Dunkirk. On the 15 September, the large Spanish fleet was seen coming up the English Channel by a smaller Dutch naval force and a short skirmish took place. This was followed, three days later, by the Action of 18 September, shown in this view, in which the 29 ships of the Dutch fleet were pitted against the 67 ships of the Spanish. The action lasted over a couple of days until the Dutch ran out of gunpowder and the Spanish retreated to the roadstead of the Downs.
See also RCINs 722142 and 722142.b-d.
After Cornelis Bol (1589-1666) (artist)
Watermark: None visible
Condition: three fold lines; 2.8 cm tear to right fold
20.3 x 115.0 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
20.7 x 116.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
Vera et Exacta Delineatio, Classium Hispanicæ, Anglicæ, et Hollandicæ, prout in Freto Brittanico iuxta Dealam Castrum et Sandvicum, in primo congressu, ante prelium se ostenderunt. Auth. Cornelio Boll. [followed by a rose symbol] Ware afbeelding vande de Spaensche, Hollantsche, en Engelsche, Scheepsvlooten in duins nae t leuen afgetekent. Door Cornelis Bol. [Title across top of view, in Latin and Dutch]
Insets:
[left, in oval frame of olive leaves, a portrait bust, title on banner below:] MARTEN HARPERTS TROMP / L. Admir. van Holland en West Fris. [Right, in oval frame of olive leaves, a portrait bust, title on banner below:] WITTE CORNELISZ DE WIT. / Vice Admir. van Holl: en Westfr.
Additional text:
[bottom left, in a rectangular panel, a key, a-i, l-r, to the ships and places in the view:] Notarum Explicatio [bottom right, in a rectangular panel, the same key in Dutch:] Verclaringe der Letteren
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement in the Downs Sep.r 1639
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement A View of the position of the Fleets prior to the Naval Engagement in the Downs between the Spanish and Dutch in Sept.r 1639: by Cornelius Bol: with Portraits of Admiral Tromp and Vice Admiral de Wit. 2 sheets. A small Plan of the Straits of Dover with the different positions of the Spanish and Dutch Fleets in Sept.r 1639: with two small views. published by Danckerts. 2 sheets. Descriptions of the Engagement in Latin and Dutch.
Subject(s)
The Downs, England (51°14ʹ00ʺN 01°26ʹ00ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3048
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
