Cornelis Claesz. Van Wieringen, Battle of Gibraltar - 1622

by Atelier Liesjes

The Battle of Gibraltar took place on 25 April 1607. During the Eighty Years' War, a Dutch fleet surprised a Spanish fleet at anchor in the Bay of Gibraltar. During the four-hour action, according to Dutch sources, the entire Spanish fleet was destroyed.

The Dutch fleet, consisting of 26 smaller warships and four freighters, was led by Jacob van Heemskerck.

The Dutch flagship was called Aeolus. Other Dutch ships were De Tijger, De Zeehond, De Griffioen, De Roode Leeuw, De Gouden Leeuw, De Zwarte Beer, De Witte Beer, De Friesche Pinas, De Morgenster and De Olifantstromp of Captain Harpert Maertenz Tromp and his nine-year-old son, the later famous admiral Maarten Tromp.

The Spanish fleet of 21 ships, including 10 of the largest galleons, was led by Don Juan d'Alvares d'Ávila. The Spanish flagship San Augustín was commanded by Don Juan's son.

Cornelis Claesz. van Wieringen (Haarlem, 1577 - there, 29 December 1633) was a Dutch draughtsman, painter and etcher.

Van Wieringen was a friend of Hendrick Goltzius and Cornelis van Haarlem and held important positions in the Haarlem Guild of St Luke. Van Wieringen, son of a skipper, specialised in sea pieces and received commissions from the city council of Haarlem and the Admiralty of Amsterdam, among others.