William III at Carrickfergus

Landing of WILLIAM III at Carrickfergus, 14 June, 1690
(Image: National Maritime Museum). CLICK TO ENLARGE.

"This depicts an incident during the War of the English Succession, sparked off by the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when Catholic James II fled the country after William of Orange landed at Torbay."

"In 1690 the deposed King James II attempted to re-capture his throne with the aid of the French troops by way of Ireland, whose Catholic population, he believed, might support him."

"He soon captured most of Ireland, until King William’s army drove him out."

"It took some time for William to gain control in Ireland."

"He landed at Carrickfergus near Belfast on 14th June 1690, to take over command of the army which was to defeat JAMES II and the Catholic hopes in that country."

"He was escorted by a squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, together with 15,000 extra Danish, Dutch and English troops."

"This lifted morale and by 1st July he faced JAMES II across the River Boyne outside Dublin."

"The ensuing victory for William led to James's withdrawal from Dublin."

"William’s reign marked the beginning of the transition from the Stuart’s personal control of government to the Parliamentary rule of the House of Hanover."

"The painting shows King William in a barge about to land at Carrickfergus Castle in the middle of the picture at the start of the campaign."

"In the right foreground is Shovell’s squadron with his flagship, Monck, the large ship on the right flying the blue flag."

"It is surrounded by the yachts that brought the King and his suite."

"In the centre, the yacht Mary still flies the Royal Standard although by this time the king had transferred to his barge, shown rowing round to the harbour entrance at the left of the castle."

"The emphasis of the painting is on Shovell’s ship and perhaps his involvement in the event."

"The picture is early English school owing much to van de Velde and probably contemporary."

"It was not done on the spot but probably used a print for the topographical reference point as it is likely the artist had never visited the town."