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A Dutch Man-of-war and Various Vessels in a Breeze

Simon de Vlieger (1601–1653)

The National Gallery, London

A Dutch Man-of-war and Various Vessels in a Breeze

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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Boats of all shapes and sizes are working hard to navigate a stiff breeze which is whipping up the tops of the waves and flattening the sails tight against the rigging. In the middle distance, on the right, is a frigate; in the left foreground there's a gaff-rigged transport boat or wijdschip. Both are battling to sail as close to the direction of the wind as possible. Others, such as the small open boat in the foreground, are running with it and must be travelling at some speed.The fact that the water has remained relatively calm despite the strong wind, coupled with the sheer number of vessels sailing so close together and the presence of a very small open boat, suggests we must be in relatively sheltered waters. Most likely this is set in the Rhine delta in southern Holland, where the river separates into a series of wide estuaries around Rotterdam, the town where Simon de Vlieger was born.

The National Gallery, London

London

Read more on The National Gallery, London
Title

A Dutch Man-of-war and Various Vessels in a Breeze

Date

about 1638-45

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 41.2 x W 54.8 cm

Accession number

NG3025

Acquisition method

Bought, 1915

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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Artist or maker

Simon de Vlieger

1601–1653

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