Willem van de Velde II was born on December 18, 1633 in Leiden, Holland. The Dutch painter was especially known for his scenes of sailing ships.
Van de Velde was taught by his father, who was himself a marine artist. The younger’s works mostly portray the sea near the shores of Holland, capturing with a vibrant spirit both calm and tumultuous ocean waves as a bed for his accurately-painted ships. His works have been said to be exact representations and thus trustworthy glimpses into 17th-century ships.
Below are pictured Calm: Fishing Boats Under Sail, A Ship in Need in a Raging Storm,
and Battle of Solebay.
