A Dutch Ship and Other Small Vessels in a Strong Breeze

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

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

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue