Artwork
Battle of Medway
Battle of Medway is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Willem Schellinks. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
You see a busy river scene: Dutch ships in the foreground, English ships burning in the distance, and a fort on fire to the left.
You see a busy river scene: Dutch ships in the foreground, English ships burning in the distance, and a fort on fire to the left.
This painting shows a real battle from 1667, when the Dutch surprised the English navy. The English had stretched a heavy chain across the river to block ships—but it didn’t work. The smoke and flames make the chaos feel real, even though the artist is unknown.
To see more works like this, visit the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
The Battle of Medway is a painting depicting a naval engagement between Dutch and English forces.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows the Dutch fleet, led by Michiel de Ruyter, attacking English ships anchored in the River Medway in June 1667. Sheerness Fort is ablaze, and English vessels are being torched despite a barrier chain across the river.
Technique & Style
The painting conveys a sense of chaos through its depiction of smoke and flames rising from the English ships and fort, creating a vivid representation of the battle.
History & Provenance
The painting illustrates a real historical event, the Dutch surprise attack on the English navy in 1667. The artist remains unidentified.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Willem Schellinks (1623–1678) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman and etcher of landscapes and marine scenes and also a poet.
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