Artwork
An English Warship Firing a Salute
An English Warship Firing a Salute is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Willem van de Velde the Younger. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:Lower right: W. V Velde In Londen 1673
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work shows an English warship discharging a salute, a visual emblem of maritime power and diplomatic respect in the 17th‑century navy.
The work shows an English warship discharging a salute, a visual emblem of maritime power and diplomatic respect in the 17th‑century navy. As a marine painting by Willem van de Velde the Younger, created in 1673, it captures the era’s emphasis on naval dominance and the ceremonial display of firepower. The salute functions iconographically as a sign of honor toward the vessel’s commander and, by extension, the state it represents.
Within the National Gallery of Art’s collection, the piece is contextualized as part of the broader tradition of marine art that documents England’s rising maritime influence.
Technique & Style
Willem van de Velde the Younger executed An English Warship Firing a Salute in 1673 using oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 66.4 cm in height and 52.9 cm in width. Classified as a marine painting, the piece captures a naval scene with the formal precision characteristic of the artist's genre.
The painting has remained in good condition, evidenced by its exhibition history and subsequent sales, including its acquisition by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 2018.
History & Provenance
Created in 1673, the oil-on-canvas painting An English Warship Firing a Salute was executed by Willem van de Velde the Younger. The work's documented ownership begins with William D. Stuart, who lent the piece to an exhibition at the British Institution in 1857. It subsequently passed to Mrs. P.A. Chamier, appearing in a Christie, Manson & Woods sale in London on 10 April 1981.
The painting later entered the collection of Dr. F. Zoellner of Risch, Switzerland, and was sold at Sotheby's in London on 16 December 1999. Following this auction, the work was held by Richard Green in London and a private collection in the United Kingdom before being sold in February 2018 through Johnny Van Haeften, Ltd. to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The painting An English Warship Firing a Salute by Willem van de Velde the Younger is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C. It entered the museum in February 2018 after being sold by Johnny Van Haeften Ltd., London, and is recorded in the gallery’s holdings without a separate accession number. The work was first lent to the British Institution for an 1857 exhibition, marking its earliest documented public display. Previously it had been owned by William D. Stuart, Christie Manson & Woods, Dr. F. Zoellner, and Richard Green, and was sold at Christie’s in 1981 and at Sotheby’s in 1999 before its purchase by the National Gallery of Art.
Context
The work, an oil on canvas marine scene dated 1673, exemplifies the marine genre that defines Willem van de Velde the Younger’s oeuvre, as recorded in scholarly catalogues.
It was shown at the British Institution in 1857, indicating early recognition of its historical interest. Its provenance through notable collectors and recent sales to the National Gallery of Art underscores its continued relevance in art‑historical discourse, positioning the painting as a touchstone for studies of 17th‑century naval imagery and Dutch marine painting.
Overview
Willem van de Velde the Younger's painting, An English Warship Firing a Salute, created in 1673, depicts a naval vessel engaged in a ceremonial act. Rendered in oil on canvas, this work captures a moment of maritime activity, characteristic of the artist's focus on marine subjects. The scene features a prominent warship, its sails unfurled, set against a dynamic backdrop.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Willem van de Velde the Younger
Willem van de Velde the Younger (18 December 1633 (baptised) – 6 April 1707) was a Dutch painter who specialised in marine art.
English Warship Firing a Salute
Entrance to a Dutch Port
Ships in a Gale
Ships in a calm
After the Storm
A Ship on the High Seas Caught by a Squall, Known as ‘The Gust’
Encounter during the Battle of Kijkduin
The skirmish of Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter against the duke of York, commanding the 'Royal Prince'during the Battle of Solebay, 7 June 1672: episode from the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74)
