THE SOLEBAY TAPESTRY

This 17th-century artwork, part of a series of tapestries, depicts the dramatic climax of the first battle of the Third Anglo-dutch War

Commissioned by Charles II and James, Duke of York (then Lord High Admiral and later James II), the Solebay Tapestry commemorates the Battle of Solebay fought off the coast of Suffolk on 28 May, 1672. The outcome proved inconclusive, with an alliance of English and French forces claiming victory because of the enemy’s withdrawal and the Dutch perceiving it as a win due to their success in stopping a planned Anglo-french blockade.

The artwork itself – belonging to a six-part series charting the story of the fierce seaborne skirmish – was created by the Dutch fatherand-son team Willem van de Velde the Elder and Younger, considered the most sought-after marine artists of their time. The elder artist was present at the battle, having taken up a position in a small boat near Southwold Bay, Suffolk, to bear witness to the carnage. Therefore, in a most literal and figurative sense, he was well-placed to make the tapestry that would become known as

The Burning of the Royal James.

In the tapestry, the Van de Veldes depicted the Royal James engulfed in flames after it was set alight by Dutch fireships, an attack that resulted in the death of Edward Montagu, the 1st Earl of Sandwich. Further highlighting the human cost is the portrayal of drowning sailors. The tapestry’s vivid and violent imagery is surrounded by an elaborate border filled with traditional motifs such as tritons, mermaids and other mythical sea creatures. Van de Velde the Elder, who initially planned The Burning of the

Royal James using large-scale paper designs now lost, employed skilled weavers for the finished product.

Prominently displayed behind George VI when he opened the National Maritime Museum in 1937, the Solebay Tapestry has since suffered from the ravages of time. However, a restoration project headed by Royal Museums Greenwich is currently underway to conserve it for future generations. It is expected to be on display at the Queen’s House, Greenwich, by February 2023 for an exhibition marking the 350th anniversary of the Van de Veldes’ arrival in England. Meanwhile, three of the other five tapestries recounting the story of the Battle of Solebay remain in the Royal Collection, and two are situated at Hampton Court.

RIGHT: The artworks, including The Burning of the Royal James, are the only known examples of 17th-century English tapestries showing a naval battle

ABOVE: From his vantage point in nearby Southwold Bay, the artist saw first-hand men drowning during the battle and recreated the horrific scenes in his tapestry

ABOVE: Van de Velde the Elder witnessed the actual burning of Royal James, which he was commissioned to depict – despite his loyalties to the Dutch, not the English