Artwork
Ships in Trouble near the Coast
Ships in Trouble near the Coast is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Peeters the Elder. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography focuses on the vulnerability of human navigation against the raw power of nature, a common theme in seventeenth-century marine art.
Jan Peeters the Elder's 1650 oil painting depicts a dramatic marine scene where sailing ships face peril near a coastline. The composition centers on the chaos of a storm, with vessels shown in the act of shipwrecking amidst turbulent seas.
The iconography focuses on the vulnerability of human navigation against the raw power of nature, a common theme in seventeenth-century marine art. By portraying the specific moment of disaster where ships are overwhelmed by the elements close to shore, the work represents the inherent dangers of maritime travel and the unpredictability of the ocean.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1650, this marine painting by Jan Peeters the Elder utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 87 cm in height and 103 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts a dramatic coastal scene featuring sailing ships caught in a storm, with specific attention given to the peril of shipwrecking.
The handling of the medium captures the turbulent interaction between the sea and the vessels near the shore, characteristic of the artist's approach to maritime subjects during this period.
History & Provenance
The painting Ships in Trouble near the Coast was created in 1650 by Jan Peeters the Elder. It is executed in oil paint on canvas and falls within the marine genre. The work measures 87 by 103 units and was produced during the period associated with the artist's activity in Antwerp. It entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display.
Overview
Created circa 1650 by the Flemish artist Jan Peeters the Elder, this oil on canvas presents a turbulent maritime episode. The composition centers on a crippled vessel being battered by heavy seas near a shoreline, while additional ships struggle in the background. The scene captures the perilous conditions that could confront sailors along the coast in the seventeenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Peeters the Elder or Johannes Peeters (24 April 1624 – 1677) was a Flemish Baroque painter and draughtsman.
