Romeyn De Hooghe (1645-1708) :The Attack on the Ship Bridge of Farnese (Spanish Commander) in 1585
Engraving,26,6 x 33,6 cm
Museum Plantin-Moretus/Print room

Farnese was a Spanish military leader who closed off the access to Antwerp via the river Scheldt with a bridge which rested on small boats. One of the most famous episodes of that battle is the attack on this bridge with several boats loaded with gunpowder, which the Northerners floated, unmanned, to the bridge. The tremendous explosion came too early however, so that the bridge was only partially destroyed.