Artwork

A threemaster with the Amsterdam coat-of-arms, with other vessels, in a storm

A threemaster with the Amsterdam coat-of-arms, with other vessels, in a storm is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ludolf Bakhuizen. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a three-masted ship bearing the Amsterdam coat of arms amid other vessels battling a turbulent sea, a scene that symbolizes the city's maritime power and resilience against nature. Bakhuizen's dramatic rendering emphasizes the peril and grandeur of seafaring, reflecting the pride and vulnerability of Dutch naval ambitions in the late 17th century. The stormy backdrop underscores themes of divine favor and human perseverance, while the inclusion of the Amsterdam emblem ties the work directly to the city's identity as a leading maritime hub.

Technique & Style

The composition is a quintessential example of marine art, capturing a dramatic maritime scene dominated by a storm.

Ludolf Bakhuizen executed this 1700 marine painting using oil paint as his chosen medium. The composition is a quintessential example of marine art, capturing a dramatic maritime scene dominated by a storm. Stylistically, the work focuses on the turbulent interaction between the rough sea and the vessels, prominently featuring a three-masted sailing ship bearing the Amsterdam coat-of-arms alongside other boats battling the elements.

Context

The painting is recognized as a significant example of Bakhuizen's marine oeuvre, reflecting his mastery of stormy seascapes and meticulous detail. Scholars highlight its historical importance within Dutch marine painting of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, particularly for its depiction of Amsterdam's maritime symbolism through the prominent coat of arms. The work's presence in the Hermitage Museum collection underscores its international cultural significance, having previously belonged to Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky and Fritz Wacker before acquisition.

Overview

Ludolf Bakhuizen’s oil painting, dated 1700, depicts a three‑masted vessel bearing the coat of arms of Amsterdam surrounded by several smaller ships caught in a violent storm. The composition places the flagship in the centre, its flag prominent, while the surrounding vessels struggle against towering waves under a dark, brooding sky pierced by a sliver of light.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after Bakhuizen succeeded the van de Velde family as the Netherlands’ foremost marine painter, the canvas entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Its acquisition date is undocumented, but it has been part of the museum’s holdings since at least the early 20th century, reflecting the institution’s interest in Dutch maritime art.