A naval battle during the Anglo-Dutch Wars (possibly the Battle of Lowestoft of 1665)
possibly Dutch School
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
c. 1900 - c. 1950
Materials
Silver-plated copper with solder
Measurements
170 x 210 mm
Place of origin
Netherlands
Order this imageCollection
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
NT 516545
Summary
Copper with silver plate and lead or lead-tin solder, relief plaque depicting a naval battle in the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652-54; 1665-66; 1672-74), probably Dutch School or Continental School, probably 20th century, in an ebonised mount and frame, with horizontal oval window, the rear of the mount inscribed in silver paint ‘2nd Dutch War 1665-1666 --- One of Admiral Van Tromp’s actions against the English’. A horizontal oval deep concave relief depicting a sea battle between opposing Dutch and British fleets, the stern of a Dutch warship visible on the right, flying the Prinsenvlag (the Dutch tricolour, doubled). The Dutch send boats to board two smaller ships at left which have heavily punctured sails. These are likely to be opposing British vessels as combatants can be seen fighting and falling into the sea amidst gun and cannon fire. In the foreground at centre sailors scramble on a sinking boat. In the medium distance another ship approaches, with more ships beyond. Nodules on the surface of the back of the relief indicate that the cast base metal is copper, possibly copper electrotype, which was electroplated silver. The left and right sides of the back, corresponding to the left and right ships (the parts of the convex in highest relief), have been filled in with solder (probably lead or lead-tin) to give substance and weight. There are no visible hallmarks or maker’s marks.
Full description
Although allied to the Protestant cause in the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648), relations between the English and the Dutch frayed over the course of the 17th century as economic disparity between the two seafaring nations grew. Much resented by the English, the Dutch Republic entered its ‘Golden Age’ in the 1600s, expanding its overseas colonies and dominating trade routes to the East and New World. The power and extent of their merchant navy was such that after the war ended, the Dutch won the race to conquer most of the Portuguese East Indies as well as most of Brazil, monopolising access to valuable resources and commodities. This monopoly was further strengthened by the Republic’s competitive business model, which, unlike England’s, was freed of tariffs and duties. English trade with European markets consequently withered and their North-American colonies were threatened. As England emerged into a Commonwealth, weakened and fractured by the Civil War (1642-51), Cromwell attempted to counter the Dutch commercial advantage by passing various ‘Navigation Acts’ embargoing Dutch trade and defending English markets. He also invested heavily in defence, building a new navy and a powerful fleet of warships. Diplomatic and trade relations grew hostile and in 1652 war was declared, marking the first in a series of conflicts known as the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652-54; 1665-66; 1672-74; 1780-84). Although this ended in a Commonwealth victory and a peace treaty was signed, after the Restoration, Charles II (1630-85), uncle of the Stadtholder William III of Orange (1650-1702; King of England, Ireland and Scotland 1689-1702), revived hostilities by promoting laws which once again suppressed Dutch trade. Furthermore, Anglican royalists and Calvinist republicans saw each other as an ideological threat, whilst provocations like the English capture of Nieuw Nederland and attacks on fleets from both sides escalated tensions, leading to a second war in 1665 which ended in a Dutch victory. The Republic maintained supremacy in the Third War, but by the time of the Fourth, over a century later in 1780, the British Royal Navy had become the global superpower and the Dutch were defeated. The battle represented in this relief plaque is said to have taken place within the Second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665 to 1666. The war was led by Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter (1607-76), but the caption refers to one of his commanders, Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp (1629-91) who is probably the figure wearing a sash on the quarter deck of the Dutch warship at right. The son of Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp (1598-1653), who was killed by the English in the First Anglo-Dutch War, Cornelis Tromp was a popular yet aggressive squadron-commander whose high-ranking naval career was marred by insubordination. For his action in the Battle of Lowestoft (13 June 1665), probably the battle depicted here, Tromp was appointed Lieutenant-Admiral of the Confederate Fleet but retained this position for a matter of weeks before his political leanings were considered subversive and he was demoted to Lieutenant-Admiral of the Amsterdam Fleet and replaced by de Ruyter. Tromp’s actions at the Battle of Lowestoft prevented a total Dutch catastrophe after the major loss of the flagship Eendracht and the death of its commander. Tromp took command and surrounding ships rallied around, engaging in direct combat with the English for around two hours to allow the bulk of the Dutch fleet to escape. Although Tromp was hailed for saving many lives, the Dutch Republic suffered one of the worst defeats in its naval history with around sixteen ships lost and a third of its personnel killed or captured. In this plaque the ships sailing off into the distance are presumably Dutch vessels getting a head start on the English pursuit, whilst Tromp’s ship Liefde faces a fleet of English ships in line of battle, dramatizing his valour. The Dutch tactic of boarding ships to capture opponents and claim enemy vessels can also be seen, however in reality this proved ineffective against the English gunnery fighting in line. Nevertheless, the British warships which appear diminutive and war-torn. Objects commemorating the events of the Anglo-Dutch Wars were produced in England (later Great Britain) and the Dutch Republic (later Netherlands) until well into the 20th century. A Dutch medal commemorating Cornelis Tromp, for example, was released in 1938 (MEC2220, Royal Museums Greenwich) and one celebrating the tercentenary of the birth of de Ruyter was published in 1997 (inv. no. MEC2314, Royal Museums Greenwich). Alice Rylance-Watson 2020
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust by Huttleston Rogers Broughton, 1st Lord Fairhaven (1896-1966) with the house and the rest of the contents.
Credit line
Anglesey Abbey, The Fairhaven Collection (The National Trust)
Makers and roles
possibly Dutch School, manufacturer possibly Continental School, manufacturer