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Willem van de Velde the Elder

1610/11-1693 Holland-London/Baroque

 

Brief Biography-Willem van de Velde the Elder was a native of Leiden and the father of artists Willem the Younger and Adriaen. His father was a naval captain, and his brother was a captain in the merchant navy. He spent his early years at sea before taking up painting. Esaias van de Velde was an alleged relation who may have mentored Willem in his first years. His pictures were mainly grisailles which are etchings made with reed pens. The technique used was to paint a white background on which the image was etched and shaded with black. He became an official marine artist for the Dutch navy, and in 1672, he moved to England as a marine artist for Charles II. He spent the rest of his life in London, and his remains lie in Saint James’s Church, Piccadilly.

 

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the battle
of the sound

the battle of the sound

burning of dutch
merchant ships

burning of dutch merchant ships between terschelling and vlieland

council of war
on board

council of war on board de zeven provincien

surrender of the
prince royal

surrender of the prince royal by Willem van de Velde the Elder

the attack on
shipping in tripoli

the attack on shipping in tripoli

the battle
of livorno

the battle of livorno

the battle of
the texel

the battle of the texel


the dutch navy

the dutch navy