Follower of Willem van de Velde the Younger

Follower of Willem van de Velde the Younger A States yacht in a fresh breeze sailing downwind towards a group of Dutch ships oil on canvas 80.5 x 110.5cm

Provenance: Sotheby’s, London, 29th April 2015, lot 541

The present painting would seem to be a period copy of the original composition by Willem van de Velde the Younger which was once at Okeover Hall, Staffordshire and is now in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (BHC0903). It shows a States yacht sailing towards the Zeven Provincien, the flagship of Lieutenant-Admiral de Ruyter, and is thought to record the assembling of the Dutch fleet off the Texel in 1672 during the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

Framed 100 x 130cm The painting is executed in oil on a linen canvas support which has been lined. The canvas tension is good and the picture is in plane. The lining has secured old flaking across the surface, a few scattered paint losses are still present which have been retouched but not filled. There are scattered areas of retouching across the surface which are reasonably well matched to the original. The varnish is clear, even and semi-glossy.