Naval battle between the Spanish and the Dutch

This naval scene may represent the Battle of the Downs, which took place on October 21, 1639. In that year, a Spanish naval fleet, under the command of Antonio de Oquendo (1577–1640), received orders from the Count-Duke of Olivares to head for the Netherlands to secure the passage between Spain and the North Sea, reinforce the Flanders garrisons, and go into battle against the French and the Dutch.

While the French were contained in their ports, Oquendo was intercepted in the Strait of Dover by a Dutch fleet commanded by Admiral Maarten Harpertzoon Tromp (1598–1653) and forced to take refuge in the Downs anchorage to the north of Dover, availing himself of England's neutrality. The situation was exploited by the Spanish general to send transport troops to Dunkirk—one of the mission’s aims—in order to provide reinforcements to his fleet. After a month, the Spanish galleons set sail to avoid a Dutch attack on the anchorage, but during the voyage were severely defeated, despite Oquendo’s resistance. This disaster destroyed Spain’s naval power, making it impossible for them to retaliate.

Restorations and studies of the painting have led to it being attributed to an unknown Flemish painter. The Flemish and Dutch schools specialized in seascapes and depictions of battles, as seen in the works of painters such as Adam Willaerts and Cornelis Claesz.