Artwork
The Anglo-Dutch Fleet in the Bay of Algiers Backing up the Ultimatum to Release the Christian Slaves, 26 August 1816
The Anglo-Dutch Fleet in the Bay of Algiers Backing up the Ultimatum to Release the Christian Slaves, 26 August 1816 is an oil painting by Nicolaas Baur. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The composition centers on a bustling harbor filled with large sailing vessels, smaller boats, and a distant hillside town beneath a bright, cloud‑streaked sky.
Nicolaas Baur’s 1818 oil on canvas, titled *The Anglo‑Dutch Fleet in the Bay of Algiers Backing up the Ultimatum to Release the Christian Slaves, 26 August 1816*, records a moment of naval pressure on Algiers. The composition centers on a bustling harbor filled with large sailing vessels, smaller boats, and a distant hillside town beneath a bright, cloud‑streaked sky. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the Anglo‑Dutch fleet’s presence off Algiers during the diplomatic ultimatum that preceded the 1816 bombardment. By showing ships poised in choppy water, flags fluttering, and crews actively rowing, Baur emphasizes the collective force exerted to secure the release of Christian captives held by the Barbary corsairs. The distant city on the slope hints at the target of the impending assault.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a chiaroscuro scheme that models the hulls and rigging through contrasts of light and shadow, heightening the sense of movement. Baur’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in the rendering of individual flags, the texture of the sea, and the figures within the boats, creating a vivid, almost documentary quality typical of early‑19th‑century marine art.
History & Provenance
Created two years after the actual events, the work reflects contemporary interest in European naval power and humanitarian campaigns. It entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch maritime collection, where it remains on display as a visual record of the 1816 Algiers operation and Baur’s contribution to Dutch naval painting.
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Artist & collection
Women’s Skating Competition on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden, 21 January 1809
The Anglo-Dutch Fleet under Lord Exmouth and Vice Admiral Jonkheer Theodorus Frederik van Capellen putting out the Algerian Strongholds, 27 August 1816
The fire on the Wharves of Algiers, shortly after the commencement of the Bombardment by the Anglo-Dutch Fleet, 27 August 1816