Depicted in this work is the famous ‘Battle of the Downs’, which took place on 21 October 1639 during the Eighty Years’ war – one of the most significant naval engagements of the seventeenth century. The battle was fought between a large Dutch fleet, led by Admiral Maarten Tromp and a combined Spanish and Portuguese invasion force under the command of Admiral Antonio de Oquendo.

The Downs is a sheltered anchorage off the coast of Kent, within English territorial waters and in sight of the coastal fortifications of Dover, Deal, and Walmer.

In the melee on the left side of the present work is the Dutch flagship ‘Aemilia’, with other ships of the fleet (flying Prince’s flags ) surround the Spanish flagship, the ‘Santiago’ (Cross of Burgundy flag). Tromp blockaded and attacked with superior manoeuvre, line-of-battle tactics, and fireships, destroying or captutring much of the Spanish fleet

The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Dutch and halted the Spanish and Portuguese attempts to take control of the English Channel.

The consequences of the Battle of the Downs were profound. Militarily, it represented a major turning point in the Eighty Years’ War – severely weakening Spanish naval power in northern Europe and confirming the Dutch Republic’s emergence as a dominant maritime force.