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Lot Essay
This impressive marine painting is among van de Velde the Younger's largest paintings. Arguably the most famous marine painter of the second half of the seventeenth century, Willem the Younger moved to Weesp in circa 1648. There, he is thought to have studied under Simon de Vlieger, whose subtle and atmospheric seascapes were a crucial influence alongside the more academic training of his father, Willem van de Velde the Elder. Back in Amsterdam by 1652, Willem the Younger took up work in his father's studio, where his prodigious talent rapidly became clear. In 1672, the van de Veldes arrived in England on the invitation of King Charles II, who provided them with an annual salary, lodgings in Greenwich and allowed them to use the Queen’s House as their studio. The van de Veldes enjoyed frequent royal commissions, and undertook work for aristocratic and naval patrons. Father and son revolutionised marine painting in England; their work established the importance of the genre in the cultural and artistic identity of the nation and inspired future generations of artists for centuries to come.
Evidently known to Robinson only through photographs, the present painting is notably similar in style and composition to the preceding lot. Working under the assumption that the painting depicts ships commanded by Russell, Robinson tentatively posited that the main ship on the left may be the 64-gun Defiance, which was built in 1675 and commanded by Russell in 1677-78 (op. cit., p. 969). Unfortunately, no certain drawing of the ship by van de Velde with which it can be compared is known.
Alternatively, the ship could plausibly be identified as either the similarly sized Swiftsure, built in 1673 and commanded by Russell from March 1678, or the Newcastle, which he commanded from August 1680. A pair of offset drawings of both ships as well as a freely worked drawing in black chalk and wash of the Newcastle, all viewed from the port side, are in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (inv. nos. PAG6235, PAG6243 and PAI7268).
We are grateful to Remmelt Daalder for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.
Evidently known to Robinson only through photographs, the present painting is notably similar in style and composition to the preceding lot. Working under the assumption that the painting depicts ships commanded by Russell, Robinson tentatively posited that the main ship on the left may be the 64-gun Defiance, which was built in 1675 and commanded by Russell in 1677-78 (op. cit., p. 969). Unfortunately, no certain drawing of the ship by van de Velde with which it can be compared is known.
Alternatively, the ship could plausibly be identified as either the similarly sized Swiftsure, built in 1673 and commanded by Russell from March 1678, or the Newcastle, which he commanded from August 1680. A pair of offset drawings of both ships as well as a freely worked drawing in black chalk and wash of the Newcastle, all viewed from the port side, are in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (inv. nos. PAG6235, PAG6243 and PAI7268).
We are grateful to Remmelt Daalder for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.