A Dutch fleet at anchor

In the centre is a port-bow view of a ship (marked 'g') at anchor with her fore topsail loosed on the cap. The drawing is trimmed at the top but the ship may be the admiral of the van squadron. Further right is the commander-in-chief, anchored and with a flag and pendant at the main, firing a gun and flying a pendant at the mizzen peak as a signal for the galjoots to come on board. There are two galjoots under sail nearby and small vessels at anchor in the left distance.

The drawing is inscribed on the back '...admirael laet een blawe wempel vande besans rae betekent / dat hij wil aen boort de galjoots' (The admiral flies a blue pendant from the mizzen yard which means that he wants the galjoots to come on board).

Object Details

ID: PAD0719
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: Primary support: 84 mm x 218 mm; Mount: 316 mm x 480 mm