Artwork
Ships near a pier

Ships near a pier is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Bonaventura Peeters the Elder. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Ships near a pier is executed in oil paint on a panel support, consistent with the marine genre practices of Bonaventura Peeters the Elder.
Ships near a pier is executed in oil paint on a panel support, consistent with the marine genre practices of Bonaventura Peeters the Elder. Created in Antwerp, the work measures 36.5 cm in height and 69 cm in width. The painting depicts a maritime scene, adhering to the stylistic conventions of 17th-century Dutch marine art.
While inception dates vary between 1635 and 1650 in records, the work is firmly classified as a painting from the mid-seventeenth century.
History & Provenance
Created in Antwerp, this marine painting was executed by Bonaventura Peeters the Elder. While one record suggests an inception around 1650, the authoritative date for the work is established as 1635. The piece was painted on a panel using oil paints.
Regarding its ownership history, the work was at one point possessed by Gijsbert de Clercq. It subsequently entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains held.
Overview
Ships near a pier is a 1635 oil painting by Bonaventura Peeters the Elder, a prominent Flemish marine artist. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and exemplifies the Flemish Baroque style.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts three large sailing vessels moored at a wooden pier, surrounded by smaller boats. The choppy water and dark, cloudy sky create a dramatic atmosphere, while the striped flags and detailed pier add to the scene's realism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bonaventura Peeters (I) or Bonaventura Peeters the Elder (23 July 1614 – 25 July 1652) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and etcher.
















