Poppy Harvey-Jones
Head of Sale
Lot 38
Willem van de Velde the Elder(Leiden 1611-1693 London)The Dutch fleet becalmed with a snow in the foreground and a galliot on the left
17 December 2020, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £10,200 inc. premium
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Willem van de Velde the Elder (Leiden 1611-1693 London)
The Dutch fleet becalmed with a snow in the foreground and a galliot on the left
inscribed and dated 'donderdack den 4 Junÿ 1665 ****us 4 uren' (upper right)
pencil and grey wash on paper
29.7 x 49.7cm (11 11/16 x 19 9/16in).
inscribed and dated 'donderdack den 4 Junÿ 1665 ****us 4 uren' (upper right)
pencil and grey wash on paper
29.7 x 49.7cm (11 11/16 x 19 9/16in).
Footnotes
Provenance
Mrs Whyte, 18 Bedford Gardens, London, before February 1969
Collection of Dr. R. Conrad, UK, by whom bequeathed to the present owner
The inscription in the artist's own hand, which is over a partially rubbed out older inscription, dates the present drawing to Thursday 4 June 1665 about 4 o'clock. The date is in the New Style of the Gregorian Calendar, ten days later than the Old Style of the Julian Calendar which was still being used in England at the time.
The work is accompanied by a letter from the late Michael Robinson, Keeper of Pictures at the National Maritime Museum, London, and the authority on the artist, to Mrs Whyte, dated 27 February 1969, in which he confirms the attribution to van de Velde. An old label on the reverse, presumably written by Mrs Whyte, describes how Robinson visited her to authenticate this drawing and 'talked for hours of the types of ships in the Dutch navy, of the wars with England, and V. de V's work as a naval Reporter who accompanied the fleet in action and reported by sketches.'
