Vernietiging van de Spaanse zilvervloot door de Engelsen op de Canarische eilanden, 1657 1657

This anonymous 1657 engraving, "Vernietiging van de Spaanse zilvervloot door de Engelsen op de Canarische eilanden, 1657", depicts the destruction of the Spanish silver fleet by the English at the Canary Islands. The scene is presented from a bird's-eye perspective, showing a chaotic naval battle with numerous ships engulfed in smoke and flames. The detailed depiction, featuring a variety of ships, cannon fire, and a panoramic view of the coastline, highlights the strategic importance of this historical event and underscores the devastating consequences of naval warfare. The inscription at the bottom provides a detailed account of the battle in Dutch, further adding to the historical context of the artwork.