Artwork
The Anglo-Dutch Fleet under Lord Exmouth and Vice Admiral Jonkheer Theodorus Frederik van Capellen putting out the Algerian Strongholds, 27 August 1816
The Anglo-Dutch Fleet under Lord Exmouth and Vice Admiral Jonkheer Theodorus Frederik van Capellen putting out the Algerian Strongholds, 27 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
Nicolaas Baur’s 1818 oil on canvas records the night‑time assault on Algiers by the combined Anglo‑Dutch fleet under Lord Exmouth and Vice‑Admiral Jonkheer Theodorus Frederik van Capellen. The composition captures the chaotic moment of the bombardment on 27 August 1816, with warships illuminated by cannon fire and lantern light against a storm‑filled sky. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the naval engagement that forced the Algerian fortifications to surrender, emphasizing the intensity of combat through swirling smoke, flashing lightning, and the frantic movement of small boats among larger vessels. By focusing on the dramatic interplay of fire and darkness, Baur underscores the perilous nature of 19th‑century maritime warfare and the decisive impact of the allied fleet’s action.
Technique & Style
Baur employs a strong chiaroscuro, contrasting the bright orange of cannon blasts and lanterns with the deep blues of night‑water and sky. The brushwork suggests swift, turbulent seas, while the precise rendering of rigging and masts conveys the ships’ structural detail. This handling of light and shadow heightens the sense of immediacy and visual tension within the scene.
History & Provenance
Executed two years after the actual bombardment, the canvas reflects contemporary interest in documenting European naval triumphs. It entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its 19th‑century maritime collection, where it remains displayed as a reference for both artistic and historical study of the 1816 Algiers operation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Women’s Skating Competition on the Stadsgracht in Leeuwarden, 21 January 1809
The Anglo-Dutch Fleet in the Bay of Algiers Backing up the Ultimatum to Release the Christian Slaves, 26 August 1816
The fire on the Wharves of Algiers, shortly after the commencement of the Bombardment by the Anglo-Dutch Fleet, 27 August 1816
