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Martinus Schouman (1770-1848)
The bombardment of Algiers and the firing of the Algerian fleet, August 26-27, 1816. Signed and dated M. Schouman f. 1823. Canvas, 95 × 159.5 cm.

Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, inv.nr.A 1395. From the model room of the Ministry of Marine, The Hague.

After the French occupation of their country, in 1813 the Dutch were once again an independent nation, though of a considerably lower grade than before the Napoleonic period. Perhaps the crudest blow of all wasthat Holland was no longer a major maritime power. Public morale was therefore given a great boost when in August 1816 the Dutch participated in a successful ninehour bombardment of Algiers, under the English admiral Exmouth, to enforce the treaty abolishing Christian slavery.

Schouman's painting of the episode, dated seven years after it took place, is the same size as a canvas by him of 1806, also from the model room of the Ministry of Marine, depicting a clash between the Dutch and British fleets. Significantly, the newer work, which looks like it was made to match the earlier one, shows theDutch fighting not against but under the British.

According to Schouman's contemporary biographer Immerzeel, a painting of this subject by the master was owned by David van Poeliën, lord of Nuland (1769-1830). Poeliën was a fellow Dordrecht townsman of the artist, becoming one of the first members of the town council after the founding of the Kingdom in 1815 and acceding to the burgomastership in 1824. A public benefactor as well as a patron of the arts, he contributed generously towards the aid of soldiers maimed at Waterloo. It would be interesting to investigate whether this painting wasa commission, inspired by the patron's faith in the English as allies and by his humanitarian impulses.

Immerzeel, pp. 78-79. NNBW, vol.5, col.524.100