Similar to PAJ3043, the work shows the van of the Dutch fleet, viewed from the lee bow, close-hauled on the port tack under topsails. Five private ships are shown, and close on the weather quarter of the sternmost one is the rear-admiral Jan Mathijszen in the ‘Oranje’. The Allied fleet is shown in the distance in line ahead to windward of the Dutch. Between the second and third Dutch ships, can be seen the Duke of York in the ‘Royal Prince’ with the ‘flag of defiance’ at the fore and the ensign, both marked ‘root’. The signal for line-of-battle is at the mizzen peak and the royal standard is at the main (ducke de Jorck / konnicke standaert). Astern of the Duke is Spragge, the vice-admiral of the red (roo visadr) and his rear-admiral Harman (roo schout…), with the note, ‘de trop.ste esquadre van / ducke de Jorcke’ (the last squadron of the Duke of York’s). On the left horizon is the blue squadron with the admiral marked ‘blau’ [? Adr in plaets / van zandwits].

This is an unsigned pencil and wash drawing by the Elder. Van de Velde was present in his galjoot at the battle and the drawings in the British Museum (B.14-17; CM.28-31) may have been made at the time. Most of the surviving drawings, however, were made in the following year when he was in England and was producing sketches for the Solebay tapestries at Hampton Court.