With the purchase of two historic tapestries, the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam has made the largest purchase in the museum’s history. The meters-large carpets were designed by Willem van de Velde the Elder and show the Battle of Solebay in 1672.
The two tapestries from Van de Velde are part of a series of six. The largest carpet is 6 by 3.3 meters, the second 4.5 by 3.3 meters.
According to the Maritime Museum, they are very rare. “It is the last two copies that will ever appear on the market”, writes the museum. The other four rugs are in American possession and not open to the public.
Two million euros
The Maritime Museum pays two million euros for the two works and received financial support from various funds, including the Rembrandt Association.
The carpets show different scenes from the Battle of Solebay that took place on June 7, 1672 off the English east coast. The Dutch fleet of more than a hundred ships was led by Michiel de Ruyter.
Willem Van de Velde the Elder was present at this naval battle and recorded the events in drawings from a sailing ship. At the request of the English king James II, the Dutch artist adapted his original drawings as a design for the tapestry series.
The two works can be seen from 2 October during a large Van de Velde exhibition that will be held until 5 April 2021.
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