Battle of the Dunes (1658) in the context of "Siege of Dunkirk (1658)"

Early modern warfare is the era of warfare during early modern period following medieval warfare. It is associated with the start of the widespread use of gunpowder and the development of suitable weapons to use the explosive, including artillery and firearms; for this reason the era is also referred to as the age of gunpowder warfare (a concept introduced by Michael Roberts in the 1950s).

Fortification techniques evolved rapidly due to the development of artillery. Firearms revolutionized warfare, diminishing the role of aristocracies and heavy cavalry. Early firearms, like arquebuses and muskets, gradually replaced bows and crossbows, leading to the introduction and decline of plate armor as firearms became more effective. Flintlock muskets became dominant by the 1690s, and the invention of the bayonet combined pikes and muskets, transforming infantry into the most crucial military force. Warfare also saw a shift towards larger armies and more devastating conflicts. The rise of centralized states and bureaucracies supported the new, massive armies, while the use of mercenaries declined. Military formations adapted to these changes. Infantry relied on columns, lines, and squares for battle, while cavalry transitioned to lighter roles focused on scouting and flanking. Despite the decline in heavy cavalry's dominance, cavalry charges remained effective under specific conditions, particularly against undisciplined infantry. The Age of Sail (usually dated as 1571–1862) was a period roughly corresponding to the early modern period and gunpowder dominated the era's naval tactics, including the use of gunpowder in naval artillery.

The Battle of the Dunes (French: La Bataille des Dunes) is an 1837 history painting by the French artist Charles-Philippe Larivière. It depicts the Battle of the Dunes, fought on 21 June 1658 outside Dunkirk. It was one of the final actions of the long-running Franco-Spanish War, ending in a decisive victory for the French and their English Republican allies. As British Royalist exiles fought alongside the defeated Spanish, it also functioned as one of the final clashes of the War of the Three Kingdoms. The painting portrays the Anglo-French commander, the Viscount of Turenne, leading a charge. In the distance is the besieged Dunkrik.

The painting was ordered in 1836 by Louis Philippe I for the newly restored Palace of Versailles. Louis Philippe commissioned a number of works glorifying French history. It was exhibited at the Salon of 1837 at the Louvre in Paris. Today it hangs in the Galerie des Batailles at Versailles.

Charles-Philippe Larivière (28 September 1798 in Paris – 29 February 1876 in Paris) was a French academic painter and lithographer.