Dutch ships returning with their prizes to Goeree after the Four Days Battle, 4 June 1666 RMG BHC0289

Dutch ships returning with their prizes to Goeree after the Four Days Battle, 4 June 1666
For reasons not yet clear this was previously to July 2016 called 'The Captured "Royal Prince" carried into Dutch waters after the Four Days Battle' . It in fact appears to be a variant version, probably by a studio hand or other follower of van de Velde from its quality, of the last picture in a set of four of the battle at Knowsley Hall. The 'Royal Prince' ran aground on the Galloper Sand during the action, was captured by Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp in the 'Gouda', and then burnt to prevent recapture. This painting shows other English prizes being taken into the Haringvliet - the estuary of the Maas - between the island of Goeree and Hellevoetsluis on the north side (Robinson: van de Velde oils, vol. II, no. 424/ 4, p.137, though not mentioned there as a version). The ship at left firing a salute is the Dutch 'Wassenaer', Captain Ruth Maximilaen. The red ensign horizontal at her stern is probably that of the English 'Convertine' which she had captured, and which appears to be the ship half seen astern immediately behind her, also with a ghostly red ensign under Dutch colours at the stern. Among the ships to the right are two other debased red ensigns indicating captures. That at centre right between two Dutch ships, missing its main topmast, is the English 'Swiftsure' though it also lost its foremast when first boarded, as shown in the Knowsley picture: this was taken by the 'Reigersberg', which is probably one of the flanking Dutch vessels. The closest ship in the pair in the right distance, missing its mainmast and with a red ensign under Dutch colours astern, is the 'Loyal George', taken on the first day of the battle, probably with her captor, the 'Deventer', alongside behind. In the far right distance, with Dutch colours on the stump of her mainmast, is the 'Hollandia'. She had lost her masts and broken her head in a collision on the first day, as Tromp's flagship, after which he shifted to the 'Gouda'. There is also a Zeeland admiralty yacht at far left. Another similar copy/ version of the painting is in the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull.

The Captured HMS Royal Prince brought into Dutch waters after the Four Days' battle, 4 June 1666