Historic Naval Battles

Dramatic depictions of naval warfare, featuring ships in battle, smoke and flames, and maritime scenes from the 17th to 19th centuries, showcasing artistry and historical significance.

Sea Battle by Willem van de Velde the Younger, oil on canvas, circa 1675, 1633-1707, Great Britain, Greenwich, National Maritime Museum

Sea Battle of the Anglo-Dutch Wars The Battle of Lowestoft, William van de Velde the Younger, 1633-1707, Dutch

'Pirates Attacking a British Navy Ship', 17th century. Artist: Willem van de Velde the Younger

The Battle of Trafalgar. Date/Period: Ca. 1841. Painting. Oil on canvas. Height: 845 mm (33.26 in); Width: 1,232 mm (48.50 in). Author: John Christian Schetky.

Ships in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, Isaac Sailmaker, ca. 1633-1721, Dutch, active in Britain (from the 1640s), between 1707 and 1708, Oil on canvas, Support (PTG): 42 x 53 inches (106.7 x 134.6 cm), battle, boats, estuary, flags, longboats, marine art, men, men-of-war, rowboats, sailboats, ships, sloops (sailing vessels), smoke, soldiers, England, Europe, Kent, Sheerness, Sheppey, Thames, Thames Estuary, United Kingdom

The Dutch fleet, 1672, painting by Willem Van De Velde the Elder. The Netherlands, 17th century.

VROOM, Hendrick-Cornelisz (1566-1640). The Invincible Armada attacked by the English. 1588. The Invincible Fleet attacked by English (1588). Oil on canvas. GERMANY. HESSE. Frankfurt. Frankfurt Historical Museum.

ANDERSON, William (1757-1837). The Capture of Fort Louis, Martinique, 20 March 1794. 1795. Oil on canvas. UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. London. Greenwich. National Maritime Museum.

Sea Battle by Willem van de Velde the Younger, oil on canvas, circa 1675, 1633-1707, Great Britain, Greenwich, National Maritime Museum

'HMS Mary in battle against Catalán', 19th century, Oil on canvas. Author: Rafael Monleón (1853-1900). Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA, MADRID, SPAIN.

Portuguese Civil War (1828-1834). Naval Battle of Cape St. Vincent. Confrontation between the Liberal and Absolutist fleets on July 5, 1833. The Liberal fleet, commanded by the British officer Charles Napier, defeated Don Miguel's fleet. Admiral Napier aboard the ship of the line "Rainha de Portugal" in Lisbon, after his victory over the Absolutist fleet at Cape St. Vincent. Oil on canvas (46 x 61 cm) by M. Yarwood, ca. 1850. Maritime Museum. Lisbon, Portugal.

The Dutch Burn English Ships during the Expedition to Chatham, 20 June 1667 (Raid on the Medway, Kent, UK), Jan van Leyden, 1667 - 1669

In the mid-17th century 'Barbar Coast' vessels were active throughout the Western Mediterranean. Their raiding prompted decisive counter measures by the Dutch and the English.

The Attack of the Combined Anglo-Dutch Squadron on Algiers, 1816, Gerardus Laurentius Keultjes, 1817 painting The attack of the United English-Dutch squadron on Algiers, August 1816. View of the warships that are off the coast of Algiers. On the right a large blazing fire in buildings ashore. Furthermore, many clouds of smoke above the coast and between the ships. canvas. oil paint (paint) bombardment. sailing-ship, sailing-boat. navy Algiers

Destruction of the Danish fleet during the Battle of Copenhagen, April 2, 1081, print. Napoleonic Wars, Denmark, 19th century.

English Warships Heeling in the Breeze Offshore, Willem van de Velde the Younger, 1633-1707, Dutch, active in Britain (from 1672), between 1673 and 1707, Oil on canvas, Support (PTG): 18 x 28 inches (45.7 x 71.1 cm), clouds, flags, frigates, full-rigged ships, marine art, ships, ships of the line, warships, waves (natural events)

Battle of Trafalgar, 21st October 1805. Engraving. SPAIN. MADRID (AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY). Madrid. National Library.

Conquest of Palembang, Sumatra in Indonesia, by Lieutenant-General Baron de Kock, June 24, 1821. Palembang's overperte, on Sumatra in Indonesia by Lieutenant General Baron de Kock, 24 June 1821. There are several warships in the harbor, at the harbor. The foreground some sloops.

The Bombardment of Sveaborg 1856 James Wilson Carmichael (1800-1868 British) Oil on canvas

Episode from the Four Days' Naval Battle (11-14 June 1666). Dating: in or after 1666 - in or before 1672. Place: Amsterdam. Measurements: support: h 151.0 cm × w 235.0 cm; d 6 cm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Author: Willem van de Velde (I) (attributed to).

The naval Battle of Leghorn (the Dutch call the encounter by the Italian name Livorno) took place on 14 March (4 March Old Style) 1653, during the First Anglo-Dutch War, near Leghorn (Livorno), Italy. It was a victory of a Dutch fleet under Commodore Johan van Galen over an English squadron under Captain Henry Appleton. Afterward an English fleet under Captain Richard Badiley, which Appleton had been trying to reach, came up but was outnumbered and fled. The battle gave the Dutch command of the Mediterranean, placing the English trade with the Levant at their mercy, but Van Galen was mortally wounded, dying on 23 March.

Samuel Scott, 1701/2-1772, British, Action off the Cape of Good Hope, ca. 1757. Oil on canvas.

FRIGATE OF THE SPANISH SAILOR BLAS DE LEZO IN COMBAT WITH THE ENGLISH SHIP STANHOPE. Author: ANGEL MARIA CORTELLINI (1819-1887). Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN.

Scene from the Mexican Expedition in 1838, the Prince of Joinville on the poop of the corvette Créole listens to the report from the vessel's Lieutenant, Penaud, and sees the explosion of the tower of the Fort of Saint-Jean d'Ulloa on 27 November 1838. The frigate Gloire can be seen in the background. Horace Vernet, 1841

Battle of Lepanto, 7 October 1571, in the Ionian Sea at the entrance to the Gulf of Patras near Lepanto in present-day Greece. The Christian Mediterranean powers, organised under Pope Pius V, with Spain at their head, won a victory over the Ottoman Empire here, Historical, digitally restored reproduction from an original of the time.

Painting of the surrender of the Royal Prince. Painted by Willem van de Velde II (1633-1707). Dated 17th Century

England, Painting of Duckworth's Action off San Domingo on 6 February 1806 by Nicholas Pocock dated 1808

The Sea Battle Near Helgoland 1864 Carl Neumann (1833-1891 Danish) Schloss Fredriksborg, Hilleroed, Denmark

Mock battle, re-enactment of a naval battle by yachts, on the IJ in honour of the visit by Tsar Peter the Great of Russia in 1697. By Abraham Storck (1644-1708), c1700

Bombardment of Algiers by the Anglo-Dutch Fleet under Lord Exmouth and Vice-Admiral Jonkheer Theodorus Frederik van Capellen, 27 August 1816, Nicolaas Baur, 1818

Sea Fight mid-17th-early 18th century Willem van de Velde II Dutch. Sea Fight. Willem van de Velde II (Dutch, Leiden 1633-1707 London). mid-17th-early 18th century. Pen and brush and brown and gray ink; traces of a framing line in black chalk. Drawings

'Battle of the Spanish and the Dutch Fleet on May 1573, at the Time of the Siege of Haarlem'. Flanders, Middle of the 1620s. Dimensions: 134x165,5 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg. Author: ANDRIES VAN EERTVELT.

The Battle of Terheide, by Jan Beerstraten, 1653-66, Dutch painting, oil on canvas. First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-54). In center is combat between the 'Brederode' flagship of Marten Tromp and the English flagship 'Resolution' of Admiral Monk, on August 10, (BSLOC_2016_6_277)

The Bombardment of Sveaborg, 9 August 1855 by John Wilson Carmichael

WEEL, Cornelis de (17th c.). Naval battle. 17th c. Painting. ITALY. LIGURIA. Genoa. Pegli. Navy Museum.

The Cannon Shot. A Dutch warship in a calm, with its sails loosed, fires a cannon shot. Two sloops float to either side of the man-of-war, and another Dutch ship with lowered sails can be seen in the distance. The tranquillity of this scene contrasts starkly with The Gust (adjacent), in which a storm-battered English warship drifts rudderless on the high waves.

A painting depicting the 1778 Battle of Ushant - Theodore Gudin, 1848

SOEST, Pieter Cornelisz van (17th century). The Four Days Fight, 1-4 June 1666. ca. 1666. Naval battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Oil on canvas. UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. London. Greenwich. National Maritime Museum.

Naval battle near Gibraltar, 25 April 1607 (Victory over the Spanish near Gibraltar by a Fleet Commanded by Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck). Dating: 1639. Measurements: support: h 136 cm (*) × w 204.5 cm (*); d 5.5 cm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Author: Adam Willaerts (signed by artist).

Captured English Ships after the Four Days Battle. Battered English and Dutch ships lie in Goeree Gat after the indecisive engagement known as the FourDays Battle (11-14 June 1666). In the foreground is the captured warship the Swiftsure, with the English royalarms on its counter. Its bowsprit, foremast and main mast have been splintered by cannon fire; the Englishflag droops off its stern. At the far right is the Hollandia, the heavily damaged ship of Cornelis Tromp.

THE BATTLE OF ALGECIRAS ON JULY 5, 1801 - XIX CENTURY. Author: MOREL LEON. Location: MUSEO PALACIO. Versailles. France.

Warships Lying Offshore, the Commanding Admiral Being Rowed out to Join the Flagship, Her Sails Illuminated by a Break in the Clouds Signed, lower left: "M Powell", Charles Martin Powell, 1775 -1824, British

The battle of Terheide' by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten (1622-1666), 1653. Painting shows the first Anglo-Dutch War, oil on canvas.

'Destruction of the Turkish Fleet in the Bay of Chesme'. Germany, 1771. Dimensions: 162,5x220 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg. Author: Jakob Philipp Hackert.

HNLMS Steam Warship Medusa Forcing Passage through Shimonoseki Strait, by Jacob van Heemskerck, 1864, Dutch painting, oil on canvas. The Shimonoseki War was fought when Emperor Komei encouraged resistance to the opening of Japan to European trade. In left foreground are Japanese seaman (BSLOC_2016_2_237)

Attack of Algiers by sea, July 3, 1830, painting of Leon Morel-Fatio (Versailles, castles of Versailles and Trianon). Scene of the attack of Admiral Dupperé (ship La Provence) during the bombing of Algiers, July 3, 1830. Antoine Leon Morel-Fatio, circa 1836

"The Battle of tha U.S.S. Kearsarge and tha C.S.S. Alabama 1864 Oil on canvas Édouard Manet, French, 1832 - 1883"

Portuguese action against Barbary pirates. Combat between Portuguese and Barbary ships, during the reign of king Alfonso VII of Portugal (1656-1683). Studio of Willem van de Velde, "the Younger", c. 1685. Maritime Museum. Lisbon, Portugal.

Captured English Ships after the Four Days Battle, Willem van de Velde, II, c. 1666

Engraving depicting the Battle of La Rochelle, a naval battle between a Castilian fleet commanded by the Castilian Almirant Ambrosio Boccanegra and an English convoy commanded by John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. Dated 14th Century

Painting depicting the departure of a dignitary from Middelburg. Painted by Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne (1589-1662). Dated 17th Century

Dutch Ships Ramming Spanish GALLEYS OFF THE ENGLISH COAST, 3 October 1602. Dutch ships Sailing Spanish galegues under the English coast, October 3, 1602. Sea battle in which Dutch warships are the Spanish galley rams, in the background another Dutch frigate.

The Spanish Armada attached by English Fleet.

Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen (c.1577-1633). Dutch painter. The Explosion of the Spanish Flagship during the Battle of Gibraltar, c.1621. Detail. Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam. Holland.

The Picking-up Machinery in the Bows of the Great Eastern 1865-66 Robert Charles Dudley British One of the 19th century's great technological achievements was to lay a telegraphic cable beneath the Atlantic, allowing messages to speed back and forth between North America and Europe in minutes, rather than ten or twelve days by steamer. An initially successful attempt in 1858, led by Cyrus W. Field and financed by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, failed after three weeks. Two working cables were finally laid in July and September 1866, the result of repeated efforts by the indefatigable Field, a cadre of engineers, technicians, and sailors, two groups of financial backers, and significant help from the British and United States navies. Dudley documented the process in a series of watercolors and oils, this example showing machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern used to bring the cable back onto the ship when faults or other problems developed. In 1892 Field donated art works by Dudley

Battle between Captain John Paul Jones' ship Bon Homme Richard and the British frigate Serapis, September 23, 1779

Drawing of a sea battle by Johannes Lingelbach, made with gray brush strokes and washes on white parchment.

Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805, the final stage, painting by Nicholas Pocock (1741-1821), 1808, oil on canvas. Napoleonic Wars, Spain, 19th century.

Admiral Duncan's victory over the Dutch fleet in the North Sea, In the naval battle of Camperduin during the First War of the Coalition, on 11 October 1797, a British fleet under the command of Admiral Adam Duncan encountered ships of the Batavian Republic under the command of Admiral Jan de Winter in the North Sea off the Dutch coast near Alkmaar, Historical, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century original, Record date not stated

The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, was a chartered company granted a monopoly by the Dutch government to carry out colonial activities in Asia. It was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock. It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, coin money and establish colonies. The VOC was set up in 1602 to gain a foothold in the East Indies (Indonesia) for the Dutch in the lucrative spice trade, which until that point was dominated by the Portuguese. It also traded with India and established ports, factories and warehouses there. Between 1602 and 1796, the VOC sent almost a million Europeans to work in the Asia trade on 4,785 ships, and netted more than 2.5 million tons of Asian trade goods.

Rafael Monleon y Torres (1843-1900). Spanish artist. Marques del Duero weathering a storm in the Sea of China, 1889. Marques del Duero was a gunboat in service in the Spanish Navy between 1875 and 1898. It fought in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. Naval Museum. Madrid. Spain.

Sea battle at Terheide, 1653, J. Plas, 1654 drawing Sea battle at Terheide (Zejeslag near Katwijk) during the first English war between the State fleet under Maarten Tromp and the English fleet under George Monck, 10 August 1653. In the foreground the Brederode van Tromp in fight with the ship of Monck. Northern Netherlands parchment (animal material). ink pen sailing-ship, sailing-boat. names of artefacts and man-made objects (buildings excluded). battle (+ naval force). historical events and situations. Battle of Scheveningen

Battle of Medway. Attack on Chatham. Tocht naar Chatham, 1667: de Nederlandse vloot in de monding van de Medway. Dating: c. 1668. Measurements: h 153 cm × w 209 cm × h 178 cm × w 235.5 cm × d 17 cm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Author: Willem Schellinks.

Fishing for Souls, Adriaen Pietersz. van de Venne, 1614

Battle of Lepanto, October 1571. Fleets of Spain, Venice and the Pope, under command of Don John Juan of Austria, defeated the Turks in the last great sea battle involving Galleys. Artist unknown. Oil on canvas.

BATALLA DE LEPANTO. REINADO DE FELIPE II. COMBATE NAVAL ENTRE LAS FLOTAS TURCAS Y LA SANTA LIGA , EL 7 - 10 - 1571.

Album Amicorum of a German Soldier. Italy, 1595. Drawings. Gouache on paper

Death of Captain James Cook at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, in 1779

The trip to Chatham and the conquest of the Royal Charles, 1667, 1800 - 1899 print Man-to-man fights in sloops, in the background the destruction of the English fleet at Chatham, on the left the conquest of the English flagship De Royal Charles on June 22, 1667. Cornelis de Witt and Michiel de Ruyter are central to a sloop, Left Captain Jan van Brakel shooting with his gun. In the foreground the sailed chain. Episode from the journey to Chatham on 20-23 June 1667 by the State fleet under the Ruyter. Netherlands paper battle (+ naval force). Raid on the Medway Medway

Italy. Genoa, 878-1684 1910. Vinkhuijzen, Hendrik Jacobus. still image. Illustrations. General Research Division. Military uniforms , History, Italy

John Thomas Serres, 1759-1825, British, Port Mahon, Minorca with British Men-of-War at Anchor, ca. 1795. Oil on canvas.

English school. The death of Nelson - During the battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805.. Painting - 1825.. National Maritime Museum, London. Author: DENIS DIGHTON. Location: MUSEO MARITIMO NACIONAL. LONDON. ENGLAND. Horatio Nelson (1758-1805).

Battle between Dutch and Spanish Ships on the Haarlemmermeer by Hendrik Cornelisz Vroom (c.1566-1640) oil on canvas, in or after 1629 When Haarlem sided with the Dutch Revolt in 1572, the Spanish lay siege to the city. In May 1573, the rebels attempted to recapture the Haarlemmermeer, which was a major supply channel to the city. They were defeated by a fleet of Spanish and Amsterdam ships (Amsterdam was then still loyal to Spain). Haarlem was ultimately forced to surrender to the Spanish.

A Ship on the High Seas Caught by a Squall, Known (The Gust), Willem van de Velde (II), c. 1680, Dutch painting, oil on canvas. A 70-gun British warship is in distress on a high wave with one of its masts broken by the winds of a storm (BSLOC_2016_6_284)

MICHIELI, Andrea, called Il Vicentino (1542-1617). The Battle of Lepanto. 1570s. Detail. Oil on canvas. ITALY. VENETO. Venice. Ducal Palace.

Firing to break a waterspout, by George Heriot. Gift of Archdeacon F.H.D. Smythe, 1957.

The Constitution and the Guerriere. Artist: Thomas Chambers (1808-after 1866). Dimensions: 24 3/4 x 31 1/4 in. (62.9 x 79.4 cm). Date: ca. 1845.Born in England, Chambers worked in the United States as a prolific marine, landscape, and "fancy" painter between 1832 and about 1866. In the 1930s and 1940s, with the discovery of the Museum's signed painting, Chambers emerged as a folk original, embraced posthumously by modern art enthusiasts as the "American Rousseau." Here, Chambers focused his attention on a well-known marine battle in the War of 1812 featuring the U.S.S. Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides. Basing his composition on an engraving by Cornelius Tiebout after a painting by Thomas Birch, he took certain liberties with his source, advancing the action and showing the British ship, H.M.S. Guerrière, with all its masts broken. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

The Battle of Bunker Hill; about 1776-77 Oil on panel Winthrop Chandler American; 1747-1790

#VALUE!, Die Belagerung von Gibraltar durch die Spanier im Jahre 1727, Spanien, Mittelmeer, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert,.

'A View of the Taking of Quebec, September 13th 1759', (1941). Scene from the Battle of Quebec, (Seven Years War), fought between the British Army and Royal Navy against the French Army, outside the walls of Quebec City. From "Canada', by Lady Tweedsmuir, 'The British Commonwealth in Pictures' series. Collins, London, 1941

GUERRA DE CUBA 1868 - 1898. NOMBRE GENERICO CON EL QUE SE CONOCE LAS TRES GUERRAS POR LA INDEPENDENCIA DE CUBA DE ESPAÑA. " ESCUADRA ESPAÑOLA FONDEADA EN EL ARCHIPIELAGO FILIPINO ". GRABADO DE LA ILUSTRACION ESPAÑOLA Y AMERICANA.

King Louis IX also Saint Louis 1214 to 1270 leads his troops in battle from Histoire de France by Colart published circa 1840

Encounter during the Battle of Kijkduin. "Sea Battle between Cornelis Tromp on the ""Gouden Leeuw"" and Sir Edward Spragg on the ""Royal Prince"" during the Battle at Kijkduin (Battle of Texel), 21 August 1673: episode from the Third Anglo-Dutch War". Dating: c. 1675. Measurements: h 114 cm × w 183 cm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Author: Willem van de Velde (II).

Japan 1274. The Gran Kan Invaded China

Old Ironsides, Hamilton, James, 1863.

The summary execution of the pirate Klaus Stortebeker (1360-1401) and his seventhy accomplices in 1401 at Hamburg (Germany).

Hernan Cortes (1488-1547). Spanish conqueror of Mexico. Cortes destroying his fleet, moored in the Villa Rica of the Vera Cruz, to prevent defections among his crew. Volume I. Engraving by J. Carrafa, 1825. Colored.

The Ottoman corsair Khayr al-Din Barbarossa against Charles V's army, 1535, by Franz Hogenberg (ca.1540-ca.1590), engraving. Tunisia, 16th century.

Naval ships - United States Navy screw frigate USS San Jacinto, 1850. Color illustration

Splicing the Cable (after the First Accident) on Board the Great Eastern, July 25th, 1865 1865-66 Robert Charles Dudley British One of the 19th century's great technological achievements was to lay a telegraphic cable beneath the Atlantic, allowing messages to speed back and forth between North America and Europe in minutes, rather than ten or twelve days by steamer. An initially successful attempt in 1858, led by Cyrus W. Field and financed by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, failed after three weeks. Two working cables were finally laid in July and September 1866, the result of repeated efforts by the indefatigable Field, a cadre of engineers, technicians, and sailors, two groups of financial backers, and significant help from the British and United States navies. This watercolor by Dudley shows a splicing operation on the deck of the Great Eastern, necessitated by a break or fault in the cable. Part of a series documenting the long, arduous process, this image was reproduced as a col

1873 view of Boston, Massachusetts.

The British Naval Franklin Search Expedition: H.M.S Resolute, Assistance, Intrepid and Pioneer wintering in the Arctic, 1850-51. Attributed to Lieut. W.H Browne (Active 1850s). Oil on canvas. 76.2 x 129.6cm.

Joint French and English expedition setting out, at request of the Genoese, to battle with African corsairs (pirates) who were a threat to Genoese shipping 1390

Her majesty Queen Victoria, visiting the Arctic ship Resolute - December 16th, 1856.

Washington crossing the Delaware River , Rivers, Washington, George, 1732-1799, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States

The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856-1860.

War of 1812: Battle of Lake Erie (Put-in-Bay), Ohio, 10 September 1813. Oliver Hazard Perry in bow of small rowing boat after abandoning his flagship Lawrence transferring to Niagara. Decisive American victory over Britain. Naval. C1911

Washington Crossing the Delaware, Emanuel Leutze, 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York City, USA, North America

Battle of Lepanto, 1571 (by Ignazio Danti) - Vatican Museums, Gallery of Maps.

of 2