An English fleet running along a high coast in a moderate breeze

It is unclear exactly which two-decker ship takes centre stage in this work, but it was presumably at one time under the command of Admiral Russell. Robinson points out that possible candidates include the Defiance, which Russell captained in 1677, or the Swiftsure, of which Russell was captain in 1678 (op. cit., p. 969). In Ombersley inventories, the subject of the painting has traditionally been identified as the capture of French ships by the British, possibly during the Battle of Barfleur, but as Robinson acknowledges it is unlikely that this is the case, and is more probably a 'convoy or escort' near the Spanish or Portuguese coast (op. cit., p. 970). A crowd of people watch the ships from between two buildings on top of the cliffs. The exact location has not been identified, and although Robinson suggests that they show some resemblance with Dover, he concedes that because of van de Velde's acquaintance with the area it it is unlikely that he would have painted an erroneous view of it (loc. cit.).

We are grateful to Remmelt Daalder for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.