Manner of Willem van de Velde the Younger, 
Dutch 19th century- 

The Battle of Solebay in Suffolk at the start of the third Anglo-Dutch war in 1672; 

chromolithograph on sheets of joined wove paper laid down on linen, folded in three sections, the first with printed titled 'The BATTELLS One the 28th of May 1672', the second with printed title '2 Part About 12 at Noon', the third with printed title '3 Part about 6 at Night', all with further extensive printed inscriptions, the first 36.4 x 312 cm., the second and third 36.5 x 151.9 cm. (unframed). 

Provenance: 
Private Collection, UK.  

Note: 
A version of the present work is held in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich [no.PAJ0307-PAJ0325 ]. 

This 19th-century panoramic depiction depicts the Battle of Solebay in three parts. The naval battle took place in May/June1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The battle began as an attempted raid on Solebay port where an English fleet was anchored and largely unprepared for battle, and ended at a hard-fought draw. The battle however prevented a planned allied naval invasion of the Dutch Republic and boosted the morale of the Dutch population. Both sides claimed victory. It is possible that the two smaller sections show the scene on two following days. 

Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) was present during the battle in a small boat. He made drawings that would go on to shape how the battle was perceived, and eventually inspire a series of giant tapestries depicting the course of the conflict.