Artwork
Ships in a storm
Ships in a storm is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Andries van Eertvelt. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The storm functions as symbolic representation of struggle and divine forces within the natural world, a common motif in 17th‑century Dutch marine painting.
The painting depicts a tumultuous sea scene with vessels battling fierce waves, embodying the dramatic power of nature characteristic of marine art. The storm functions as symbolic representation of struggle and divine forces within the natural world, a common motif in 17th‑century Dutch marine painting. Through its dynamic composition and turbulent seascape, the work conveys both the peril of maritime travel and the awe‑inspiring force of the ocean.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring 38 cm in height and 106.5 cm in width. Its marine subject is rendered with a focus on atmospheric effects and dramatic composition, characteristic of 17th‑century Dutch marine painting. The handling of light and stormy seas demonstrates a mastery of chiaroscuro and dynamic brushwork, contributing to the formal balance of the piece.
History & Provenance
Ships in a storm is an oil painting on panel created in 1650 by Andries van Eertvelt. The work measures 38 cm in height and 106.5 cm in width.
The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and is also held by the Amsterdam Museum and the former Nieuwezijds Huiszittenhuis, establishing a provenance linked to these institutions.
Its creation history is documented through its dated execution in 1650, reflecting the marine painting genre characteristic of van Eertvelt’s output.
The painting Ships in a Storm by Andries van Eertvelt is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. While the work is associated with the Amsterdam Museum and the Nieuwezijds Huiszittenhuis in some records, it is currently located at the Rijksmuseum. The inventory details and specific accession numbers for this 1650 oil-on-panel work are not provided in the available sources. No exhibition history or specific display dates are documented in the provided references.
Context
The painting is a marine work created in 1650 by Flemish artist Andries van Eertvelt, depicting vessels contending with turbulent seas. It is housed in major Dutch institutions including the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum, reflecting its significance within 17th-century maritime painting. The work's technical execution in oil on panel and its thematic focus on stormy seascapes align with contemporary genre conventions, situating it within van Eertvelt's broader specialization in naval subjects and the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with oceanic exploration and peril.
Scholarly attention has highlighted its compositional intensity and atmospheric rendering as emblematic of the period's technical and narrative ambitions in marine art, though specific critical assessments remain sparse in digitized records.
Overview
Andries van Eertvelt, a Flemish marine specialist active in the mid‑17th century, painted Ships in a Storm circa 1650. Executed in oil on canvas, the work captures a tempestuous seascape in which three vessels are caught in heavy surf. The composition is held by the Rijksmuseum, where it represents an early Flemish contribution to the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with maritime subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andries van Eertvelt (1590–1652), was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver who was one of the first Flemish artists to specialize in marine art. Several of his pupils also became prominent marine artists.
