European Decorative Arts and Sculpture The Dutch Fleet Appearing
at Dawn After Willem van de Velde I, Dutch, 1611 - 1693.
Manufactured by Thomas Poyntz, and Mortlake Tapestry
Manufactory, London, 1619 - 1649. Wool and silk Currently not on
view 1942-89-1Gift of G. Burford Lorimer, 1942 This tapestry
shows the the Battle of Solebay, which was the opening battle of
the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74). Pictured is the mostly
anchored English and French fleet early on the morning of June
7, 1672, just after the alarm was raised at the surprise
approach of the Dutch. Three ships from the English and French
fleet are off to the right signaling the approach of the enemy
by firing guns and flying their sails. In the middle distance
amongst the anchored allied ships is the Saint Philippe, which
carries Admiral d’Estrées, the commander of the French squadron.
Just beyond that is the Duke of York, later James II, in his
flagship the Royal Prince, which was destroyed by fire during
the battle. Both sides suffered the los