A First-Rate

Image credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, 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.

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.

An unfinished composition closely relating to a painting of the 'Royal Sovereign' by Willem van de Velde the Younger (BHC3614), which is thought to commemorate an event at Spithead on 4 June 1702 when Prince George of Denmark dined on board with the Duke of Ormonde. In Woodcock's picture the first-rate shown on the left may be the 'Royal William', at anchor and becalmed. The artist has adapted the ships shown in van de Velde's painting by altering the nationality of the flags and the appearance of the sterns. On the principal ship the Royal Standard is implied flying at the main, the Admiralty flag at the fore, the Union flag at the mizzen and the red ensign at the stern. The red ensign is different from van de Velde's because it is the post-1707 patterns with the St George's cross and St Andrew's cross superimposed on a blue ground in the upper quadrant.

National Maritime Museum

London

Title

A First-Rate

Date

1715

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm

Accession number

BHC0983

Work type

Painting

National Maritime Museum

Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF 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