File:The Battle of the Texel, 11-21 August 1673 RMG BHC0314.tiff

The Battle of Texel was the last battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, 1672-74 between the Dutch on one side and the English and French on the other. It represented the final attempt by the Allies to destroy the Dutch fleet and leave the coast free for an invasion of Holland from the sea.

In the left foreground, in starboard-bow view is the ship of the Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp. It is not possible to identify the vessel positively, since Tromp transferred ship during the action. Although it probably the 'Comeestar', 70 guns, it may be the 'Gouden Leeuw', 80 guns, in which Tromp began the battle. His double-prince flag is at the main, and another at the fore, with a pendant apparently flying at the mizzen. Behind the flagship is a disabled Dutch ship bearing a shield on her stern with five or six diagonal stripes with lion supporters. In the centre of the picture is the 'Royal Prince' of Admiral Sir Edward Spragge and the battle is shown focused on her defence against Tromp's repeated attacks with gunfire and fireships. Beyond the 'Royal Prince' with can be seen the starboard bow of the English 'St Andrew', 96 guns, flying the flag of the vice-admiral of the blue squadron, Sir John Kempthorne, who did much to save the 'Royal Prince' from capture. Tromp is firing his port broadside at the 'Prince' which has lost her main and mizzen masts as well as her admiral's flag. She is shown firing her starboard guns in return.

In the left foreground is a large barrel. In the central foreground is the wreckage of a mast with figures clinging to it and, to the right, a ship's barge rescuing people from another sinking barge. In the right corner three men are shown clinging to a small piece of wreckage. In the right foreground there is a Dutch ship, in port-quarter view, with her fore topmast and mizzen mast missing, her ensign staff broken and the ensign falling overboard. She is probably the 'Wapen van Holland', 44 guns, commanded by Matthijs Diksz Pijl and part of Tromp's squadron. Figures are shown jumping off the ship with others in the water around the stern, which is decorated with a lion. Close by on her starboard side is a galliot picking up people from the sinking ship. Ahead of this ship and of the 'Prince' is a Dutch fireship in flames, probably meant to be one of those sent to burn the 'Prince'. In the distance showing through and above the smoke of battle are a number of ships, both Dutch and English. The sky is infused with the golden glow of a sunset, with clouds parting in the centre of the canvas. The smoke rising from the burning ships rises up to mingle with the clouds.

Dating from several years after the event, this is one of many versions of the battle painted by the artist (see also BHC0315) who was the younger son of Willem van de Velde the Elder. Born in Leiden, he studied under Simon de Vlieger in Weesp and in 1652 moved back to Amsterdam. He worked in his father's studio and developed the skill of carefully drawing ships in tranquil settings. He changed his subject matter, however, when he came with his father to England in 1672-73, by a greater concentration on royal yachts, men-of-war and storm scenes. From this time painting sea battles for Charles II and his brother (and Lord High Admiral) James, Duke of York, and other patrons, became a priority. Unlike his father's works, however, they were not usually eyewitness accounts. After his father's death in 1693 his continuing role as an official marine painter obliged him to be more frequently present at significant maritime events. The painting is inscribed 'W.V.V.J', on the barrel in the left foreground.