Van de Velde:
Father & Son
Title: The captured Swiftsure, Seven Oaks, Loyal George and Convertine brought through Goeree Gat, 16 June 1666, in or after 1666
Artist: Willem van de Velde, the Younger (Dutch 1633-1707)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Image Courtesy: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
It is not unusual for a son to opt for the same career as his father by following in his footsteps. That is true of noted Dutch artists Willem van de Velde the Elder and
his son Willem van de Velde the Younger.
The Elder
Title: Unsuccessful English attack on the VOC fleet at Bergen, 12 August 1665, Painted in 1669
Artist: Willem van de Velde, the Elder (Dutch 1611-1693)
Medium: Pen on Canvas
Image Courtesy: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Willem van de Velde the Elder was the son of a Navy Captain. His brother was a skipper on merchant vessels. As a young
boy he was a sailor before opting for a career in art. Perhaps it is not surprising that in his artistic career his greatest
success came from his marine paintings.
The Elder's noted attention to detail of the ships he painted was of great value to naval historians. At one point van de
Velde the Elder was the official artist for the Dutch Navy. Oddly, in an act that has never
been understood or explained, in 1672 when the Netherlands was at war with England van de Velde
traveled to London and entered the service of King Charles II.
The Younger
Title: The Capture of the Royal Prince, 13 June 1666, Painted in or after 1666
Artist: Willem van de Velde, the Younger (Dutch 1633-1707)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Image Courtesy: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
As valued as the Elder's marine works are considered to be his son, the Younger, outshone the high standards set by Willem van de
Velde, the Elder.
Van de Velde the Younger studied his craft both with his father and with Simon de Vlieger, another noted marine painter. While his works had the attention to detail of his father he
was known for his majestic sense of composition.
Title: Portrait of Willem van de Velde the Younger, c. 1668
Artist: Lodewijk van der Helst (Dutch 1642-after 1684)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Image Courtesy: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
He joined his father on the 1672 trip to the court of Charles II of England. The Stuart monarch put both men on retainer in 1674. Father and son continued to paint for the Dutch
market as well.
Title: Portrait of the English man-of-war the Loyal George, captured during the Four Days’ Battle, 11-14 June 1666, 1666
Artist: Willem van de Velde, the Younger (Dutch 1633-1707)
Medium: Drawing with Graphite, Pen and Brush in Grey and Brown Ink on Paper
Image Courtesy: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Visitors to the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol at Amsterdam Airport
Schiphol have the chance to view a unique exhibition of paintings and drawings by Willem van de Velde
the Elder and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger in
Maritime Power: War Journalism in the 17th Century
Each witnessed a number of naval battles up close by sailing on a ‘galliot’, a small sailing ship that the Dutch
Admirals made available and from where they sketched and took notes. Returning to their studio they created
their marine works.
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol is a joint initiative between
the famous Rijksmuseum Amsterdam art museum and the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The Rijksmuseum is the
first museum in the world to have an annex in an airport and Schiphol is the
first airport to have a museum in its terminal, thus bringing the finest of Dutch art to
world travelers.
Maritime Power: War Journalism in the 17th Century
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol:
through February 27, 2007
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