The drawing shows the English and Dutch fleets engaged probably on the first day of the battle, 1/11 June 1666. Van de Velde the Elder was present at the battle in a galjoot put at his disposal by de Ruyter. He made a large series of drawings most of which are in the Boymans van Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam. It seems likely that the Younger was with him, as there are several drawings by him in the NMM’s collection which appear to have been drawn during the battle.

In the lower left corner is the collectors mark of the artist Paul Sandby, and there is an inscription on the mount W. Vandervelde bought by Admiral Sir E. Codrington from the collection of Paul Sandby 1816-20 (the date of Christie’s sale was 17 April 1817). The drawing is inscribed with colour notes for the flag and the name of de Ruyter, presumably to help van de Velde complete a sketchy drawing made in the heat of battle. The drawing is unsigned.