The Rotterdam artist Langendijk was a painter and etcher, but is now known chiefly for his drawings. The landing of Anglo-Russian forces on the Dutch coast near Den Helder commanded by the Duke of York was part of the unsuccessful invasion of the French controlled Batavian Republic in an attempt to restore the House of Orange. It is probable that the artist was present as the drawing is inscribed by him 'ad vivum 1799' (from the life 1799). A watercolour version, now in the Royal Library, Windsor, was bought by the Prince of Wales (later George IV) in 1803.