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Description:
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In this depiction of Dutch men-of-war, the Dutch Admiral de Ruyter's flagship, the 'Zeven Provincien', can be seen on the right. She bears on her stern the arms of the United Provinces surrounded by those of the seven individual members of the union. The 'Ooievaar' is in the centre and to her left the two 'Eendrachts'. The smaller 'Eendracht' bears on her stern the lion of the United Provinces and the Maid of Holland and was built by the Admiralty of Amsterdam. The larger ship was built by the Admiralty of the Maas in 1666, to replace the 'Eendracht' blown up at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665. On the far right is the entrance to a harbour and in the foreground several small boats. On the left, a man is hauling in fishing nets.
Very little is known about the artist, except that he lived in Rotterdam and practised as a naval architect. He was a draughtsman in the art of making grisaille pictures and his work is closely identified with that of Willem van de Velde the Elder. The painting is signed 'Mööy' on floating spar lower left and is dated on the stern of the 'Zeven Provincien', 'Anno 1664', while all the other ships are dated 'Anno 1666'.
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