View of Melaka and a naval battle

Title on object: Malacca soo als dat van de reede afgesien wordt

The view shows the city of Melaka in the background. A legend indicated the main monasteries, fortifications and other landmarks.

In the foreground a sea battle, which in the legend is described as een voorname zeeslag, de welke tuschen de Hollenders en Portugesen gedaen zijnde, de Portugesen sterck 7 uijtstekende groote scheepen, 3 galeyen en 11 Fusten(?), en de Hollanders 9 Gemeene Schepen. The watercolour is almost certainly based on an image of a Dutch attack on the city which took place in 1606 under the command of Cornelis Matelieff. (see e.g. RP-P-OB-75-447).

Also see Nationaal Archief VELH0619.67; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek: Van der Hem 39:15. Both give the same view of the city but without the battle.

Part of the Carte di Castello, collected by Cosimo de Medici III in 1667 and 1669 during his tours through Europe. Cosimo III bought the 66 watercolours by Vingboons in December 1667 in Amsterdam, through mediation of Pieter Blaeu.