Portrait of the ‘Tre Foldighed’

This portrait of the Danish ship ‘Tre Foldighed’ was previously thought to be the Danish ship ‘Tre Lover’ until re-identified by Niels Probst of the Danish Maritime Society and Michael Robinson. It is a highly finished drawing, rubbed on the back and probably an offset from another drawing. It is possible that it is an early work by the Younger based on an offset of the Elder’s.

There is in the Boyman’s Museum, Rotterdam, a similar drawing (MB1866/T361), a highly worked up offset, inscribed (be)quaem te maecken om te drucken (Suitable for making an offset), probably also the ‘Tre Foldighed’, but described in the Boymans catalogue as the ‘Tre Lover’. In both drawings the ship’s figurehead is three lions, one above the other. This drawing is approximately dated by the watermark.

Object Details

ID: PAJ2329
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Velde, Willem van de, the Elder
Date made: 1659?
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Sheet: 359 x 748 mm; Mount: 624 x 987 mm