Portrait of the ‘Britannia’

One of a pair of large drawings of ships in isometric perspective (the other being a portrait of the ‘Lenox’ third rate, PAJ2427), made probably on the occasion of the launch of the ‘Royal Sovereign’ at Chatham in 1684. The 100-gun first rate ‘Britannia’ was built in 1682 and rebuilt in 1700. The drawing is a port bow view, allowing a concentrated focus on the figurehead, in the form of the king on horseback riding over a winged dragon.

Object Details

ID: PAI7581
Collection: Fine art
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Velde, Willem van de, the Elder
Vessels: Britannia (1682)
Date made: 1684?
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Sheet: 450 x 599 mm; Mount: 963 mm x 655 mm