Armed Three-Master Anchored near a City
1565
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1565
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Armed Three-Master Anchored near a City is a 1565 ink by Frans Huys, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a large, detailed ship with three tall masts, anchored near a city. The ship’s ropes and rigging crisscross everywhere, and small figures sit on the dock. In the background, buildings and a church tower line the waterfront. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show every rope and shadow—this is called cross-hatching. The city looks calm, but the ship’s size makes it feel powerful. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with lines.
