Le Port d’Amsterdam vu de l’Ij, 1666

Dutch painter, Ludolf Backhuysen (1630-1708) was praised in the 17th century for his extremely precise marine paintings. The port town, on the horizon, is almost invisible, despite the painting's title of The Port of Amsterdam. The artist instead focuses on the ships, which show the wealth of the port. In the foreground, he highlights the De Spiegel, a huge warship built in 1663.
This painting was for Hugues de Lionne, one of King Louis XIV's ministers, and was a prestigious commission, ordered in 1666 by the city of Amsterdam. It was a diplomatic gift, created whilst Holland was at war with England.
The stormy sky and the rough waves set the scene for a dramatic atmosphere.