The Battle of Scheveningen, 31 July 1653, c.1654 (oil on canvas)

Creator: Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten The final battle of the First Dutch War, 1652-1654, was a disaster for the Dutch. They lost about 15 ships and their great leader 'Maarten Tromp' was killed at the beginning of the action. As a result of it, the English were in a position to impose fairly harsh terms on the Dutch at the ensuing peace conference. In the foreground of the painting, to the far right, a Dutch ship is sinking and to the far left an English ship is sinking. In the centre of the painting is a starboard-quarter view of the 'Brederode', Tromp's flagship, engaged in furious action with English ships on both sides. In the left background, Monck, the English General-at-Sea in 'Resolution', is in action with four Dutch ships, while on the extreme right the two ships burning probably represent the 'Andrew' and the 'Triumph'.