A Calm

Anchored in shallow, glassy waters at low tide, two small vessels provide the main focal point of this painting. The main sail of the nearest smalschip (a narrow ship) is being lowered and a Dutch flag can be seen hanging loosely on its deck. Behind is a kaag (a flat-bottomed boat designed for inland waterways), alongside which a smaller boat can be seen drawing up. To the left, a wooden dinghy is either making its way in to shore, or out to the moored boats, helped along by the crew’s oars and two men in the water.

Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) was active in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he worked in the studio of his father, Willem van de Velde the Elder (c. 1611-93). The Van de Veldes became renowned for their small pictures of Dutch fishing vessels shown in a calm at low tide, of which this painting is a prime example. These paintings were celebrated by Dutch collectors for their technical accuracy, recognisable types of watercraft and dynamic skyscapes. Later, in 1672-73, Van de Velde and his father moved to England, where they produced marine paintings in the court of King Charles II (1630-85). In England, their paintings moved from depicting calm seascapes such as this one, to storms, shipwrecks and battle scenes.