Willem van de Velde
1610 or 1611-1693
The Battle of Scheveningen: The Meeting of the Squadrons of Lieutenant-Admiral Tromp and Vice-Admiral Witte de With
1653
10 1/2 x 23 7/8 inches (265 x 607 mm)
Gray wash over graphite on six joined sheets of paper.
2017.266
Thaw Collection.
Notes
As the son of a seaman and at one time a captain himself, van de Velde's detailed knowledge of ships and nautical life made him well suited for his subsequent career as a marine painter. In this drawing, he depicted the final major battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-54), which the Dutch lost along with the war itself. The famous Dutch commander Maarten Tromp was killed in action during this battle, as van de Velde noted in the inscription in the upper right. The artist executed this highly finished drawing in the studio on the basis of several quick sketches that he made as a firsthand witness to the engagement. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
Inscriptions/Markings
Watermark: Horn with strap, inside crowned shield over "4" and "WR".
Associated names
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Bibliography
Thaw Catalogue Raisonné, 2017, no. 393, repr.
The Thaw collection of master drawings : acquisitions since 2002. New York : Morgan Library & Museum, 2009, no. 10, repr.
The Thaw collection of master drawings : acquisitions since 2002. New York : Morgan Library & Museum, 2009, no. 10, repr.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department