Portrait of the ' Vrede' (?)

One of two offset drawings of this 46-gun Amsterdam Admiralty ship of 1650 (the other is PAH5010) of which there is also a drawing by the Elder (PAH3837), to which both relate. The ship was last mentioned in 1667. This example (? not in reverse) shows it from slightly before the port beam, in reverse to PAH5010. The fore course is loosed in the brails, fore topsail hoisted half-mast, main topsail loosed on the cap, mizzen half brailed and topsail hauled out to a bowline. The work depicts the ports on the broadside showing, eleven on the gundeck, eleven on the upper deck, and two on the quarterdeck. On the taffrail is a coat of arms between dolphins.

The back of the drawing is inscribed in Dutch, which Robinson translates as ‘If the hands have to go aloft in rough weather to furl the sails, it is best to bring up the anchor. Foresail brailed on getting the anchor ready and the buoy. Note 1676. Note the buoy overboard or in the tackle. Note how the mizzen and mizzen topsail are set for lying to…’ The drawing is rubbed on the back. It was clearly worked up in pencil by the Younger over faint offsets, probably taken from a work of his father’s. The rounded hull form is not well expressed and though the masts and sails of this and PAH5009 have been offset from each other they have been differently developed. This one also has a curious mistake in the drawing of the tuck and is slightly doubtfully signed with a cut signature on the back.

Object Details

ID: PAH5009
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Velde, Willem van de, the Younger
Vessels: Vrede? 1650 [Dutch navy]
Date made: 1661?
People: Velde, Willem van de, the Younger
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 505 x 430 mm; Mount: 772 mm x 642 mm