Aankomst van de Hollands-Engelse vloot met koning Karel III te Lissabon, 1704 1735

Zacharias Chatelain II made this print of the Dutch-English fleet arriving in Lisbon with King Charles III in 1704. It's a vivid portrayal of a key moment in European power politics. The War of the Spanish Succession was raging, and this image captures the arrival of allied forces meant to install Charles on the Spanish throne. It speaks to the intertwined nature of Dutch, English, and Portuguese interests, and the struggle against Bourbon expansion. Notice how the artist meticulously renders the ships, emphasizing their sheer number and military might, broadcasting a message of allied strength. As historians, we look at such images not just for their aesthetic qualities, but as documents embedded in specific historical moments. Prints like these were often commissioned to shape public opinion. Examining them alongside period pamphlets, diplomatic correspondence, and military records helps us understand the complex interplay of politics, power, and representation in early modern Europe.