Willem van de Velde

Willem van de Velde the Younger
Willem van de Velde the Younger was a Dutch marine painter. Wikipedia

Born: December 18, 1633, Leiden, Netherlands
Died: April 6, 1707, Greenwich, United Kingdom

Here are two more Dutch seascapes to explore. Let your eyes wander over Willem van de Velde’s “Ships in a Gale.” Now take a look at Reinier Nooms’s “Amsterdam Harbor Scene.” What do you notice in these two paintings? How is each artist showing elements of‪#‎Weather‬?

Willem van de Velde the Younger first gained his vast knowledge of the sea and sailing ships by studying under his father, the celebrated marine painter Willem van de Velde the Elder. “Ships in a Gale” is one of Van de Velde's early masterpieces. It is filled with the drama of a churning sea on which two storm-tossed ships struggle to avoid jagged rocks that have already claimed a third vessel. Does this remind you of any other composition we’ve seen?


Similarly, Reinier Nooms specialized in maritime subjects and received much of his artistic inspiration from Amsterdam’s bustling harbor. In his composition, we see billowing clouds, fluttering flags, and slightly choppy waters. Does this scene remind you of anything you’ve ever seen before? How is it different than van de Velde’s composition?

If you could paint a seascape, how would you feature the weather?‪#‎ArtAtoZ‬

Willem van de Velde the Younger, “Ships in a Gale,” 1660, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2000.72.1

Reinier Nooms, called Zeeman, “Amsterdam Harbor Scene,” c. 1658, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund, 2011.3.1