Plymouth
Hendrik Danckerts
1673
With access to both the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, Plymouth was a launching point for naval campaigns, colonial settlement, and trade with North America and the Caribbean. At center is the Royal Citadel, then nearing the end of its ten-year construction, which made Plymouth one of the most heavily fortified ports in the nation. At a time of naval conflicts and threats, this image offered proof of Plymouth’s protection. Danckerts was part of a group of Dutch painters working in Britain who were admired for their expansive landscapes. These artists were often commissioned by the government to paint views of its military installations both at home and in its colonies, reinforcing the image of Britain’s power.
Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · Image: Yale Center for British Art, Public domain · Text: Yale Center for British Art, CC0