The Dutch Burning English Ships during the Dutch Raid on the Medway, 20 June 1667

About this artwork

height 93 cm x width 156.5 cm

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Dutch Burning English Ships the Dutch Raid on theway, 20 June 1667*, a dramatic oil-on-panel painting by Jan van Leyden created between 1667 and 1669. This large work (93 cm high by 156.5 cm wide) captures a pivotal moment in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch fleet, led by Michiel deuyter, launched a bold surprise attack on England's poorly defended naval base at the Medway River near Chatham. On June 20, Dutch set fire to several English warships, towed away the flagship *HMS Royal Charles* as a trophy, and humiliated the Royal Navy in one of the greatest naval raids in history. Van Leyden's timely depiction served as patriotic propaganda, celebrating Dutch maritime supremacy during the Dutch Golden Age. Rendered in the vibrant Baroque style typical of 17th-century Dutch marine painting, the artwork employs oil on panel—a durable medium favored for its smooth surface and rich detail—to convey the chaos of billowing smoke, exploding vessels, and triumphant Dutch ships. The panoramic composition draws viewers into the fray, highlighting the strategic brilliance and fury of the raid. Housed in the Rijksmuseum, this piece not only documents a turning point that forced England to sue for peace but also exemplifies how art immortalized national pride, reminding us of the era's fierce naval rivalries and the Netherlands' seafaring legacy.

About the Artist

Jan van Leyden · 1450–1527

A shadowy figure who may be identified with a 'Jan van Leyen' who became a master in the Antwerp guild in 1520; one of the earliest followers of Bosch, he favored small paintings of figures in strange landscapes. He was probably born in Leyden. He was apparently dead before January 1527, when it is documented that his widow remarried the landscape artist, Frans Vermeer. Comment on works: Religious