Ships in the Roads

Willem van de Velde followed in his father’s footsteps and specialised in ship painting. Here, he gives an impression of a day on the water in almost dead calm. On the right, the crew of a three-master are hoisting the headsail, while a passenger is being rowed ashore. The activities are being watched from the yacht in the foreground right. The stern of the ship is richly decorated and bears a red Dutch lion and the Amsterdam coat of arms.