Who painted Rough sea with Ships?

Rough sea with Ships was painted by Ludolf Bakhuizen in 1697-01-01.

Where can I see Rough sea with Ships?

Rough sea with Ships is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Rough sea with Ships?

Rough sea with Ships is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Rough sea with Ships?

Museum-quality prints of Rough sea with Ships are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Rough sea with Ships

Ludolf Bakhuizen , 1699

Rough sea with Ships is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ludolf Bakhuizen. It dates from 1699 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work belongs to the marine genre, reflecting 17th-century Dutch fascination with seafaring and the symbolic struggle between mankind and the elements.

The painting portrays a turbulent maritime scene dominated by a small boat battling towering waves, a common motif in Dutch marine art that emphasizes nature's sublime power and human vulnerability at sea. Bakhuizen's realistic rendering of crashing surf and billowing clouds underscores themes of resilience and the unpredictable forces of the ocean. The work belongs to the marine genre, reflecting 17th-century Dutch fascination with seafaring and the symbolic struggle between mankind and the elements.

Technique & Style

Rough sea with Ships is an oil painting executed on canvas by Ludolf Bakhuizen in 1697. As a work of the marine genre, the piece depicts boats navigating turbulent waters, utilizing the fluid properties of oil paint to render the dynamic movement of the sea. The support consists of a canvas measuring 31.5 cm in height and 39 cm in width.

The handling of the medium allows for the detailed representation of the maritime scene, characteristic of Bakhuizen's approach to capturing the power of the ocean.

History & Provenance

Ludolf Bakhuizen created the marine painting Rough sea with Ships in 1697 using oil on canvas. The work measures 31.5 cm in height and 39 cm in width. Its ownership history traces back to Lucretia Johanna van Winter, who held the piece before it passed to Hendrik Six van Hillegom.

The collection subsequently remained within the Six family, descending to Jan Pieter Six VI, then Pieter Hendrik Six van Vromade, and finally Jan Six van Vromade. The painting is currently part of the Rijksmuseum's holdings, specifically associated with the former Collection of Lucretia Johanna van Winter.

Rough sea with Ships is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection under inventory number SK-A-1365. The painting entered the collection through successive ownership by Lucretia Johanna van Winter, Hendrik Six van Hillegom, Jan Pieter Six VI, Pieter Hendrik Six van Vromade, and Jan Six van Vromade before its acquisition by the museum. It has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum as part of its permanent display of Dutch Golden Age marine paintings.

Overview

Ludolf Bakhuizen’s 1699 oil on canvas, Rough Sea with Ships, portrays a storm‑tossed ocean crowded with vessels. Central to the composition is a large Dutch‑flagged ship, its canvas fully unfurled against a churning horizon, while smaller boats and a foreground skiff populated by figures navigate the tumultuous waters. The scene captures the precarious balance between human endeavor and the sea’s power.

Context

Bakhuizen worked at a time when the Netherlands’ prosperity relied heavily on sea trade, and seafaring scenes were both popular and politically resonant. His focus on realistic, dynamic sea conditions set him apart from earlier, more decorative marine works, aligning his oeuvre with the era’s growing interest in natural observation and the documentation of naval power.