WILLEM VAN DE VELDE LE JEUNE | Dutch ships at anchor

Commerce d'art, Saint Cloud, 1988

Hinged to mount at the top. Two repaired holes in sky, towards right, and minor repairs in both right corners. Light creases down centre, from old folding of the sheet. One or two very light brown spots in sky, and surface slightly discoloured, evenly across the sheet, but overall condition good. Sold unframed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The two Willem van de Veldes, father and son, were the leading marine painters active in the Netherlands and England for much of the second half of the 17th century, and the first years of the 18th.  Having spent their early careers in the Netherlands, they moved to England in the winter of 1672-73, and after this worked extensively in the service of the English crown, recording all the great events and activities of the Royal Navy. In particular, they worked as the equivalent of modern day war correspondents, making numerous paintings and drawings of the various sea battles of the Anglo-Dutch Wars of 1652-1674.  Surprisingly, they seem to have been seen by both sides as impartial observers, rather than spies, and enjoyed a remarkable level of access to the workings of both navies. Their drawings range from detailed portraits of individual ships to extensive records of naval activities and battles; drawings like this one fall somewhere in the middle, serving as a highly atmospheric record of how exactly a group of unspecified Dutch ships would have looked, while sitting calmly at anchor.  As always, the aerial perspective in this drawing is absolutely perfect, as is the sense of how the various ships and boats sit on the calm surface of the water.