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Lot Essay
The large-scale engagement fought off the North Sea island of Texel on 11 August 1673 was not only the final naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74), but also the last Anglo-French attempt to defeat the Dutch at sea and then effect a landing on the coast of Holland. Two fierce but indecisive actions had already been fought that summer in the Schooneveld, off the Scheldt estuary, causing both fleets to retire to port for repairs, with the result that the allies (England and France) were not able to return to sea until mid-July. Having joined with the French under d'Estrées, Prince Rupert's combined fleet of ninety-two warships arrived off the Dutch coast on 25 July; three days later the smaller Dutch fleet under de Ruyter sailed from the Schooneveld and, after several further days delay due to adverse weather, met the allies off the Texel on 11 August.
The Dutch had the weather-gage and de Ruyter, using the same skill he had employed at Solebay, succeeded in mounting a concentrated attack despite having fewer ships. Using his van, under Adriaen Banckert, to contain the entire allied van consisting of d'Estrés squadron of thirty ships, de Ruyter was able to maximise his efforts against the English centre and rear divisions. Prince Rupert's ships in the centre were severly battered but an even more tremendous duel was fought between the two opposing rear divisions, the English commander Sir Edward Spragge losing his life whilst attempting to transfer into a new flagship. As darkness fell, the two exhausted fleets disengaged and de Ruyter withdrew towards the coast. Despite the heavy casualties, no ships were lost on either side and the result was held to be a draw. In reality however, de Ruyter emerged the victor since, with his fleet still intact, allied plans to land in Holland came to nothing.
In van de Velde's original painting, the large central vessel was Dutch; this was transposed into an English man-o'war in Robert Woodcock's version which also introduced a number of other minor alterations.
The Dutch had the weather-gage and de Ruyter, using the same skill he had employed at Solebay, succeeded in mounting a concentrated attack despite having fewer ships. Using his van, under Adriaen Banckert, to contain the entire allied van consisting of d'Estrés squadron of thirty ships, de Ruyter was able to maximise his efforts against the English centre and rear divisions. Prince Rupert's ships in the centre were severly battered but an even more tremendous duel was fought between the two opposing rear divisions, the English commander Sir Edward Spragge losing his life whilst attempting to transfer into a new flagship. As darkness fell, the two exhausted fleets disengaged and de Ruyter withdrew towards the coast. Despite the heavy casualties, no ships were lost on either side and the result was held to be a draw. In reality however, de Ruyter emerged the victor since, with his fleet still intact, allied plans to land in Holland came to nothing.
In van de Velde's original painting, the large central vessel was Dutch; this was transposed into an English man-o'war in Robert Woodcock's version which also introduced a number of other minor alterations.