Lot 63
Jacob Eduard Heemskerck van Beest (Dutch, 1828-1894), circa 1864Forcing of the Straits of Shimonoseki 16-1/2 x 29-3/4 in. (41.9 x 75.5 cm.)
5 June 2013, 13:00 EDT
New YorkUS$15,000 - US$25,000
Looking for a similar item?
Our specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Client Services (Los Angeles)
Client Services (New York)
Jacob Eduard Heemskerck van Beest (Dutch, 1828-1894), circa 1864
Forcing of the Straits of Shimonoseki
signed lower right "E. van Heemskerck van B..."
oil on panel
16-1/2 x 29-3/4 in. (41.9 x 75.5 cm.)
signed lower right "E. van Heemskerck van B..."
oil on panel
16-1/2 x 29-3/4 in. (41.9 x 75.5 cm.)
Footnotes
In 1864 the feudal domain of Chōshū had been harassing various local fiefdoms, undermining the Emperor, and trying to expel all foreigners by attacking their shipping. The Shogun thought this was a good opportunity for punishing Chōshū, and to aid a government which showed signs of opening the inland sea to trade. The battle for the Shimonoseki Straits was fought by joint naval forces from Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States, and took place off the coast of Shimonoseki, Japan. On August 17, 1864, a squadron consisting of nine British warships, four Dutch warships, and three French warships, together with 2,000 soldiers, marines and sailors, all under the command of Admiral Sir Augustus Leopold Kuper of the Royal Navy, steamed out of Yokohama to open Shimonoseki Strait. The U.S. chartered the steamer Takiang, and accompanied the operation in a token show of support. The two-day battle that followed on September 5 and 6 did what the previous operations could not; it destroyed the Prince of Nagato's ability to wage war. Unable to match the firepower of the international fleet, and amid mounting casualties, the rebel Chōshū forces finally surrendered two days later on September 8, 1864.
During the battle, the artist served as an officer aboard one of the Dutch warships. This painting is part of a trilogy commemorating the engagement. The other two are owned by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and are listed as follows: No. 1125 a – "H.M.'s Medusa fighting her way through the Straits of Shimonoseki, 1864" and No 1125 b - "The Dutch, British, French and American Squadron in Japanese waters, 1864"