01 Classic Works of Art, Marine Paintings - With Footnotes, #79

Peter van de Velde,  (1634–after 1723)

The burning of the English fleet off Chatham, 20 June 1667, circa 1670 (1667-1700)

Oil on panel

73 × 108 cm (28.7 × 42.5 in)

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The Raid on the Medway during the Second Anglo-Dutch War in June 1667, sometimes called the Battle of the Medway, Raid on Chatham or the Battle of Chatham, was a successful attack conducted by the Dutch navy on English battleships at a time when most were virtually unmanned and unarmed, laid up in the fleet anchorages off Chatham Dockyard and Gillingham in the county of Kent. At the time, the fortress of Upnor Castle and a barrier chain called the "Gillingham Line" were supposed to protect the English ships.

The Dutch, under nominal command of Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, over several days bombarded and then captured the town of Sheerness, sailed up the Thames estuary to Gravesend, then sailed into the River Medway to Chatham and Gillingham, where they engaged fortifications with cannon fire, burned three capital ships and ten lesser naval vessels, and captured and towed away two ships of the line: HMS Unity and HMS Royal Charles.


Politically, the raid was disastrous for King Charles' war plans and led to a quick end to the war and a favourable peace for the Dutch. It was one of the worst defeats in the Royal Navy's history. More on the Battle of Chatham

Peter van de Velde or Peter van den Velde (1634 – after 1723), was a Flemish Baroque marine painter who lived well into the 18th century. He was born in Antwerp where he became a master of the Guild of St. Luke in 1654. Between 1666 and 1680 he is recorded in the guild as having pupils. Between 1668 and 1675 he produced 50 paintings for the Antwerp art dealers Forchondt, who exported these to Vienna.

Considering the great age that this painter is supposed to have reached, it is possible that the name Peter van de Velde refers actually to two painters, maybe a father and son pair who signed with the same name. A son of Peter van de Velde was baptized in Antwerp in 1687. He is known for marines in stormy seas.

Peter van de Velde died some time after 1723, the latest date discovered on one of his paintings. More on Peter van de Velde

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