An oriental harbour with a fortress, a man-o'-war, figures unloading cargo, and other vessels beyond

Not much is known about Hendrick van Minderhout's early years. Born in Rotterdam, he lived in Bruges between 1652 and 1672, entering the Guild of Saint Luke in 1663. He later settled in Antwerp until his death, where he remarried in 1673 and had five children, two of whom, Anton and Willem, were also painters.
Having preferred a Dutch palette of silvery greys in his early canvases, the adaption of a warmer and more colourful palette along with a strong predeliction for Mediterranean harbour scenes in his later works, suggest that Minderhout had at least visited Italy. The bold contrasts created by the light falling on the rippling water and on the monumental ships, as well as the Levantine figures on the quay, is very striking. The theatre of this composition, with the dramatically angled man-of-war and towering rocky fortress, is a hallmark of Minderhout's paintings, other particularly fine examples include works at the Musée Royal des Beaux-Artes, Antwerp, the Groeningemuseum, Bruges, and at the National Gallery, Oslo.