The Royal Barge receiving a salute by the Royal Yacht upon disembarkement

The Royal Barge was built to the order of King Willem I between 1816 and 1818 at the Rijkswerf in Rotterdam after a design by constructor C.J. Glavimans, probably inspired by Napoleons state barge. The slender galley-like hull is derived from the Mediterranean shipbuilding tradition and thus renders immediate exclusivity. In combination with the exquisite goldplated sculpting by Peters from the Rijkswerf in Vlissingen and goldplated woodcarving by Bulens, Racable and Antoine d'Anvers, under supervision of constructor Soetermeer, it makes the barge a true "golden carriage on water". Greive made sure these features received his special attention and became the focuspoint of the painting. Since the Royal Barge is still preserved and on view in the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam, it is clear to see the precision he put in the rendering of the detailed
figure-head: the seagod Neptune thrones in a shell drawn by three
seahorses, flanked by his sons the Tritons. The royal barge was first
used in 1841 during King Willem II's visit of Rotterdam, shortly after his inauguration. She served last during the 25th wedding anniversary
of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1962. In 1983 the Royal Navy
gave the royal barge on loan to the Scheepvaartmuseum, where in
1986 she was restored to her original splendour.

See colour illustration and front cover illustration
A.N.P. Press