Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)
Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War
Sluis, 1603
SOLI DOMINO GLORIA: Viva icon pugnæ navalis, VIIo. Kal: junias, inter octo triremes Fred: Spinola, et tres naves duasq triremes ord: confœd: Belgij, ad Slusam fland: oppid factæ, in qua ipse Spinola in terijt
1603 or laterEngraving and etching; printed from two copperplates on two sheets of paper, joined; mounted on paper, mount cropped (Mount Type not discernible) | 47.5 x 94.2 cm (neatline) | RCIN 721127
A low/middle oblique view of the failed attempt by the Spanish fleet, commanded by Federico Spinola, to break the Dutch blockade by a Zeeland fleet commanded by Joos de Moor (c.1548-18 February 1618) at Sluis on 26 May (7 June N.S.) 1603. The Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648). Oriented with south-south-east to top.
This print shows a naval conflict off the coast of Flanders in which both sides used oared galleys (the triremes of the title), which are engraved in great detail. The Spanish commander, Spinola, who is named in the title, was killed in the action; he was the brother of Ambrogio Spinola.
The coastline is shown in profile and extends from the mouth of the Schelde estuary in the east, and naming the settlements of Breskens (51°23ʹ45ʺN 03°33ʹ20ʺE), Schoondyck (Schoondijke 51°21ʹ15ʺN 03°33ʹ20ʺE), Oostburck (Oostburg 51°19ʹ33ʺN 03°29ʹ15ʺE), Cassant (Cadzand 51°22ʹ06ʺN 03°24ʹ30ʺE), Sluys, S. tanne (Sint Anna ter Muiden 51°18ʹ51ʺN 03°21ʹ55ʺE), Knocken, Hoyst (Knokke-Heist 51°21ʹ00ʺN 03°16ʹ00ʺE), and Damme (51°15ʹ05ʺN 03°16ʹ53ʺE). Lacks explanatory text to the letters and numbers on the view.
The date of 1605 which appears in the George III heading and George III catalogue entry is an error. A copy of this view, lacking the text, was published by Aert Meuris (a bookseller in ‘s-Gravenhage) in 1621 (Legermuseum, Delft 00112009/01).
Hans Rem (c.1567-after 1620) (printmaker)
Willem Jansz. Blaeu (1571-1638) (publisher) [at bottom of dedication panel, bottom right of view:] Amstellodami / Gulielmus Janßonius excudit.
Watermark: None visible
Condition: three fold lines; unevenly trimmed. Verso: remains of Mount Type A or B; no gilt edges
47.5 x 94.2 cm (neatline)
52.1 x 94.2 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
52.6 x 94.8 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
SOLI DOMINO GLORIA: Viva icon pugnæ navalis, VIIo. Kal: junias, inter octo triremes Fred: Spinola, et tres naves duasq triremes ord: confœd: Belgij, ad Slusam fland: oppid factæ, in qua ipse Spinola in terijt. [in panel, across top of view]
Dedication:
[in rectangular panel, bottom right of view:] Illust.mis Nobilissmis Amplissimisq / Dnīs. D. Ordinibus fœderatarum / inferioris Germaniæ Provinciarum / atq Generosmo Illmo Nobilissmoq / Heroi Mauritio Nassovio, / Principi Uraniæ &c. Dnīs suis / clementissmis D. D. Johannes Rem.
Additional text:
[Latin couplets in panel below view; begins:] Cœlitus adversi compertus Numinis iras / Hæc mutare animum; donte bis quattuor ausus …
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement off Sluys 1605.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [left of centre, red pencil:] 1/104 [and, black pencil:] I/118; [top right, red pencil:] 1609.
George III catalogue entry:
Sluys Icon Pugnæ Navalis 7 kal. Junias 1605 inter 8 tiremes Fred. Spinolæ et tres naves duasque tiremes Ord. Confœd. Belgii ad Slusam factæ: per Johannem Rem, apud Janssonium. 2 tab.
Subject(s)
Sluis [L'Ecluse, Sluys], Zeeland, Netherlands (51°18'30"N 03°23'10"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
B. Hunnius, Het staatische Vlaanderen of de zeeuwsch buise, Middelburg, 1718, pp .47-9
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2801
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
