A Dutch flagship at anchor

This is an offset from another drawing, rubbed on the back of the paper and well worked up with graphite. An offset was a method used by the van de Veldes to transfer the outline of a ship’s hull from an existing drawing onto a new piece of paper. The new piece of paper was placed over the original drawing and rubbed on the back producing a faint drawing which could be worked up with graphite or pen and ink and any additional detail added.

The flagship is shown port broadside and flies a flag at the foremast. The drawing is unsigned.

Object Details

ID: PAF6843
Collection: Fine art
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Velde, Willem van de, the Younger
Date made: 1665?
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 213 x 329 mm; Mount: 404 mm x 551 mm