Sotheby's is holding an auction of Old Master Paintings in Amsterdam, at lunchtime today (May 18), featuring two star lots of considerable historical value.
One is The Battle of Lepanto, by the Flemish Baroque painter Andries van Eertvelt. The battle took place on October 7, 1571 between the forces of the Ottoman Empire and the Christian Holy League.
Van Eertvelt's depiction of the Ottoman Empire's landmark victory is renowned for its large scale, immense quantity of the ships and the intensity of its presentation.
Jan Asselijn's The Battle of Lützen, 1632
(Click to enlarge)
It will auction with a pre-sale estimate of €80,000-120,000.
Also appearing is Jan Asselijn's The Battle of Lützen, one of the most decisive battles of the Thirty Years' War which took place on November 16, 1632.
Although the battle claimed the life of one of the most important Protestant alliance leaders, King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden, the Protestant armies succeeded in forcing the Imperial troops into retreat.
A detail from Andries van Eertvelt's depiction of The Battle of Lepanto, 1571
(Click to view the whole painting)
The battle subsequently became a favourate subject among artists in Protestant Holland. Asselijn's contribution to the canon is valued at €50,000-70,000.
Abraham Willaerts, Aemout Smit, Abraham van Beijeren and Hendrick Staets will also be among the other Old Masters appearing in the auction.
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