The Battle of The Sound, 1658

The only identified 'battle' pictures by this very rare artist depict two actions in the celebrated Four Days' Fight during the Second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665-67. (Dictionary of Sea Painters, by E.H.H. Archibald, 3rd. ed., 2000, p.214 refers). Despite the difficulties of identifying the various flags, ensigns and pennants in this pair of works, the complete absence of any English emblems rules them out as hitherto unknown depictions of the same epic engagement. More likely is the so-called Battle of The Sound, fought in October 1658 between the Swedish fleet and the combined fleets of Denmark and the Netherlands. The battle arose out of the ambitions of King Charles X of Sweden not only to dominate the Baltic but also to subjugate both Denmark and Poland. With important trade interests in the Baltic, the Dutch allied themselves to the Danes and, following the Swedish invasion of Denmark and the resultant siege of Copenhagen, sent a fleet to assist their allies. Battle was joined in The Sound - the narrow strip of water controlling the entrance to the Baltic, between the Danish island of Zealand and the southern tip of Sweden - at 8.00a.m. on 29th October 1658. Both fleets were evenly matched but gradually the Dutch and Danes gained the upper hand despite heavy fighting and the loss of the Dutch flagship. The Swedes eventually broke off the action in the late afternoon leaving the combined fleet free to sail into Copenhagen and raise the seige.

Christie's are most grateful to Frank Cockett for his help in attributing this lot.