View of Ambon

anonymous, c. 1617

This is a view of the Mollucan island of Ambon with a portrait of its first Dutch governor, Frederik Houtman, at the lower right. At centre is the Portuguese Fort Victoria, which was seized by the Dutch East India Company in 1605 because of the lucrative clove production. Houtman initially maintained good contacts with the Ambonese chiefs, but the company later mounted ruthless ‘punitive expeditions’ to counter the sale of cloves to its rivals.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4482
  • Dimensionssupport: height 148.8 cm x width 268.2 cm, sight size: height 148 cm x width 266.5 cm, frame: height 176.7 cm x width 296 cm x thickness 12.5 cm (support incl. frame)
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Bird's-eye View of Ambon, with a Portrait of Frederik Houtman (1571-1627) in a Cartouche
    • View of Ambon

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4482

  • Description

    Gezicht op Ambon in vogelperspectief met in een cartouche bekroond met Neptunus en zeewezens het portret van Frederik Houtman, gouverneur van Amboina (1605-11). Aan de baai ligt het door de Portugezen gebouwde fort dat in in 1605 door de Nederlanders werd veroverd. Op het eiland Ambon zijn met plaatsnamen de verschillende nederzettingen aangeduid. Op het water galeien, schepen en onderaan een zwaardvis.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    • inscription, on the islands: ‘Waÿboetÿ / Enela / Cambello / Loewa / Nufatello / Affoloelonu / Larÿke / Wackzieri / Afan / Lelÿboÿ / Matou / Myto / Mamala / Lyen / Waÿ / Baguale / Tiel / Otemerÿ / Roeton / Mattela / Emma / Occoryla / Nako / Kylang / Soya / Poeta / Correcorra / Matofyvel / Moly / Latu / Matuwa / Kabau / Samette / Kaloly / Omman / Abore / Jhamau / Oelattÿ / Orÿ / Seriforÿ / Tetavaÿ / Tuwa / Pavera / harya / Boÿ / Ametto / Tytevay’
    • inscription and date, lower right, in the cartouche: ‘Ætatis Suae 46 / 1617’

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: anonymous

  • Dating

    c. 1617

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • support: height 148.8 cm x width 268.2 cm
    • sight size: height 148 cm x width 266.5 cm
    • frame: height 176.7 cm x width 296 cm x thickness 12.5 cm (support incl. frame)

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

  • Place

  • Period

    1600 - 1627

Acquisition and rights

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    Commissioned by Frederik Houtman for East India House, Kloveniersburgwal and Oude Hoogstraat, Amsterdam; first recorded in that institution in 1620;{See Langeraad 1897, pp. 627-28; Van Dam 1929, p. 311.} transferred to the Colonial Storehouse, 1795; transferred to the Colonial Department, 1831; transferred to the museum, 1885; on loan to the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, 2002-12

Documentation

    • L. Panhuysen, 'Ontziet uw vijanden niet, God is met ons', Historisch Nieuwsblad (2010) nr. 10, p. 39.
    • Documentatiemap Schilderijen: aantekeningen R. van Luttervelt (voor 1963).

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