Vierdaagse Zeeslag, 1666 1666

This 1666 print depicts the "Four Day Battle," or "Vierdaagse Zeeslag", a naval battle fought between the Dutch and English fleets. The anonymous artist captures the chaos of the event, with hundreds of ships and small boats engaged in battle. The detailed scene is enhanced by two small portraits of the Dutch and English admirals, Michiel de Ruyter and George Monck, framed in ornate wreaths at the top of the print. The text surrounding the scene, which is in Dutch, offers a key to the individual ships and their actions, making this a valuable historical document as well as a visual depiction of the pivotal event.