A three-quarter-length portrait to right facing forward, with a rocky seashore as background to the left and the stern of his flagship 'Gouden Leeuw' (Golden Lion) in action at the Battle of the Texel, 1673, to the right flying the Amsterdam double-prince ensign and flag appropriate to his rank as Lieutenant-Admiral of Holland. He wears a brown coat over a white shirt with an orange sash at the waist. In his right hand, which rests on the muzzle of a naval gun, he holds the baton of commander of the Dutch fleet.

The sitter was the second son of Maarten Tromp. When he was still only nineteen he commanded a squadron in the Mediterranean and was promoted to flag rank on the death of van Galen at the Battle of Leghorn in 1653. In the Second Dutch War he commanded a division of the fleet at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665, the Four Days Fight, 1666, and St James's Day 1666. He was relieved of his command after complaints from de Ruyter about his undisciplined behaviour. In the Third Dutch War (1672-74) he was reinstated and fought in all three fleet actions, particularly distinguishing himself in the last, the Battle of the Texel in1673. He was a friend of King Charles II and this portrait was painted when Tromp visited London in 1675 and Charles II made him a baronet. The view of the 'Gouden Leeuw' is by van de Velde the Younger, or his studio.

Lely, a Dutchman who arrived in England in 1641 shortly after the death of Van Dyck, soon became, his successor as leading portraitist of the day. He worked for Charles I, continued to flourish under the Commonwealth and Protectorate and after the Restoration of 1660 was appointed Principal Painter to Charles II. Lely, a Dutchman who arrived in England in 1641 after the death of Van Dyck, soon became his successor as leading portraitist of the day. He worked for Charles I, continued to flourish under the Commonwealth and Protectorate, and after the Restoration of 1660 was appointed Principal Painter to Charles II.