Verovering van de Zilvervloot in de Baai van Matanzas door admiraal Piet Heyn, 1628 1628

This anonymous print depicts the Dutch admiral Piet Heyn’s capture of the Spanish Silver Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba in 1628. The scene is dominated by a large number of ships, many of which are clearly labeled. The print is notable for its detail, its emphasis on the strategic importance of the event, and its use of labels to identify individual ships and commanders. This artwork exemplifies the 17th-century interest in documenting naval warfare and is an important example of Dutch graphic art from this period.