The Siege of Schenkenschans in 1636 c. 1640
gerritvansanten
abstract painting
water colours
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
fluid art
underpainting
painting painterly
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
watercolor
Gerrit van Santen's "The Siege of Schenkenschans in 1636," painted around 1640, depicts the Dutch fort Schenkenschans under attack during the Eighty Years' War. This battle scene, executed in a panoramic landscape format, vividly captures the chaos and intensity of the conflict. Smoke billows from the cannons, while ships and soldiers engage in fierce combat on land and water, creating a dynamic and visually striking composition. This meticulously detailed oil painting showcases Van Santen's talent for depicting historical events with dramatic realism, capturing the essence of 17th-century Dutch military history.
Comments
Thirteen paintings once hung in a gallery glorifying Frederick Henry’s military triumphs. This is the only one that has been preserved: it depicts his victory on 29 April 1636 at Schenkenschans, on the Republic’s eastern border where the rivers Rhine and Waal split. Whoever controls this stronghold, controls access to the country. While Schenkenschans is being attacked from the rivers, a fierce battle between a combined Dutch-French army and Spanish forces is raging in the foreground.
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