How to Paint a Sea Fight? The Van de Veldes in Search of Information

Abstract

This year marks the 350th anniversary of the Battle of the Texel, which took place off the Dutch coast in August 1673.

Naturally, Willem van de Velde the Younger received commissions for paintings of this battle, which would prove decisive for the survival of the Dutch Republic. Like any marine painter, he had one problem to solve: how do you portray a massive event at sea?

Artists had been dealing with that challenge for centuries, and they came up with a variety of solutions, often depending on the wishes of the client and the information available. Even an eyewitness like Willem van de Velde the Elder did not oversee an entire sea battle from his galliot.

In the studio, the Van de Veldes had to transform the gathered information into an acceptable synthesis on a single canvas of a battle that sometimes lasted for days.

But in 1673, Van de Velde the Younger faced an additional challenge. He lived in England at the time and neither he nor his father had been present at the naval battle. So before a brush could be put to canvas, image research had to be done.

Using surviving drawings, Remmelt Daalder will retrace the steps Van de Velde took to capture the essence of the battle in paint. 

Event information

Timings

Arrivals from 6.30pm, talk to begin at 7pm 

Tickets

Places are free and the talk is suitable for all. Registration is required. Click here to book your tickets

Location

The talk will be taking place in the Great Hall of the Queen's House in Greenwich. For directions, please visit rmg.co.uk/queens-house