To commemorate the Dutch naval commander Maerten Harpertsz Tromp, his family commissioned a series of pen paintings of Tromp’s best-known battles from Willem van de Velde. The artist used pen and ink on canvas for these works, which resemble meticulous, accurate engravings. Van de Velde witnessed the Battle of Terheide in 1653. He used the sketches that he produced on board as studies for this pen painting.