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A Dutch Ship and Other Small Vessels in a Strong Breeze

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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A warship keels over in the face of an advancing storm, a Dutch flag flying boldly at its mainmast, the arms of the Province of Holland on its stern. The gun ports are open, the cannon out at the ready – probably for practice. A small fishing boat is tossed about on the crest of the wash left behind the warship.

Close to us, the crew of a kaag (a flat-bottomed craft used for inshore journeys) take in the sail to slow it down. The flag at the peak of its sail has faded a little, but it is just possible to make out what appears to be Willem van de Velde the Younger’s signature across the centre.

Willem the Younger painted this exhilarating little picture quite early in his career. It shows the influence of Simon de Vlieger, with whom he may have studied and whose work can also be seen in the National Gallery.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Dutch Ship and Other Small Vessels in a Strong Breeze

Date

1658

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 55 x W 70 cm

Accession number

NG2573

Acquisition method

Salting Bequest, 1910

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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