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Robert Holmes Setting the Dutch Fleet on Fire at Terschelling
Willem van de Velde I (1611–1693) or Willem van de Velde II (1633–1707), pen and brown ink, with grey wash, over graphite, 1666
During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the English Rear Admiral Robert Holmes raided the Vlie estuary in August 1666, setting fire to a large Dutch merchant fleet of 150 ships moored between the islands of Vlieland and Terschelling. As part of the same attack – which came to be known as Holmes’ Bonfire – he sacked and burnt down the village of West-Terschelling, killing mostly women and children.
- Artwork typedrawing
- Object numberRP-T-1905-20
- Dimensionsheight 447 mm x width 760 mm
- Physical characteristicspenseel in grijs, potlood, pen in bruin, inkt