Dutch craft in a fresh breeze

Details

Willem van de Velde II (Leiden 1633-1707 London)
Dutch craft in a fresh breeze
signed and dated 'W. V. V. J 1705'
black chalk, pen and brown ink, grey wash, brown ink framing lines
5¾ x 7 3/8 in. (14.6 x 18.8 cm.)

Provenance

with Colnaghi (according to a label at the back of the frame).
Edward Seago; Christie's, London, 6 July 1976, lot 14, bought by a forebear of the present owner.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Lot Essay

Dr. Pieter van der Merwe has suggested that this drawing could be a compositional demonstration drawing showing various craft at different points of sailing. He also pointed out that the three boats on the left appear to be sprit-rigged and probably kaags (small Dutch cargo/passage boats). Two drawings of the same year, similarly inscribed, are in the National Maritime Museum (M.S. Robinson, Van de Velde Drawings [...], Cambridge, 1974, II, nos. 1429 and 1430, ill.).

We are very grateful to Dr. Pieter van der Merwe for his assistance in cataloguing this drawing and the following lot.

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