Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger were the leading marine painters of the 17th century. 

From their studio in the Queen’s House, father and son transformed marine painting in Britain. Yet their paintings only tell part of the story.

Royal Museums Greenwich is home to almost 1,500 drawings by the Van de Veldes. Together they provide a fascinating insight into the world of a 17th-century artist's studio, and show how drawing was at the heart of their creative process: subjects sketched, ideas tested and inspiration shared.

Three hundred and fifty years after they were first made, these delicate works on paper still catch the eye and capture the imagination. Take a closer look, and discover the art of the Van de Veldes.

Take a closer look

Tap the cards to explore the Van de Velde drawings collection.

The Van de Veldes in Greenwich

Find out about the Dutch artists’ time in the Queen’s House

Paper and materials

What did the Van de Veldes use to create their detailed ship portraits and maritime sketches?

Sketching at sea: Van de Velde the war artist

Daring, dedication and an eye for detail – how Van de Velde the Elder risked his life to record naval battles as they happened

Artist secrets revealed: the techniques of the Van de Veldes

Explore how the Van de Veldes used their vast drawings archive to bring their maritime masterpieces to life

A Van de Velde drawing lesson

Notes, inscriptions and observations fill many of the Van de Velde drawings. What can they tell us about their artistic process?

The legacy of the Van de Veldes

How the founders of British marine painting inspired generations of artists, including J.M.W. Turner

Search the whole collection

Explore the entire Van de Velde drawings archive online at Royal Museums Greenwich
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Deep dive
Who were the Van de Veldes?
Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger were the most influential maritime artists of the 17th century
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Work in focus
The Solebay Tapestry
Discover the story behind the largest tapestry in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection
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Conservation
Conservation in Action
Follow one of the most ambitious public conservation projects ever undertaken at the Queen’s House
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Feature
History of the Queen's House
The centre of Greenwich for hundreds of years, the beautiful Queen's House has also been at the heart of royal life
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Event
Behind the scenes tours
Explore the inner workings of Royal Museums Greenwich and see conservation in action on one of our guided tours
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Shop
The Art of Naval Portraiture
£30.00
From elite officers to ordinary sailors, the portrayal of naval personnel has been a significant branch of British art for over 500 years...
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Art that inspires

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Our partners

This project has been made possible with support from the Getty Foundation through The Paper Project initiative.

Credits

Curator of Art and Project Lead Curator: Dr Allison Goudie

Paper Conservation Manager: Emmanuelle Largeteau

Digital production: James Gill and Elizabeth Oliver

Video production: Tailored Media

A Sea of Drawings builds on the conservation research project on the Royal Museums Greenwich Van de Velde drawings undertaken in 2012-2014, led by Clara de la Peña McTigue (now Lead Paper Conservator at National Galleries of Scotland) and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.