Artwork
Fishing Boats near a Sandbank in a Calm
Fishing Boats near a Sandbank in a Calm is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Willem van de Velde the Younger. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel, a medium that supports fine detail and luminous surface rendering typical of Dutch marine painting.
The work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel, a medium that supports fine detail and luminous surface rendering typical of Dutch marine painting. The brushwork demonstrates careful handling to convey calm water and subtle atmospheric effects, while the composition balances precise ship depiction with expansive sky. These formal qualities align with the marine genre and reflect the technical proficiency of Willem van de Velde the Younger in the late 17th to early 18th century.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1700 by Willem van de Velde the Younger, executed in oil on an oak panel and classified as a marine artwork. It was commissioned by Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, who owned the piece after its creation in the Netherlands.
The work entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and remains part of the Cabinet de Monseigneur le duc de Choiseul within the museum’s holdings.
The painting is held in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it is listed under the inventory number 1978.6.145. It entered the museum as part of the collection of the French diplomat Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, and has been displayed in the museum's European paintings galleries since its acquisition. Exhibition history includes its presentation in the 1979 exhibition "Dutch and Flemish Masterpieces from the Hermitage" and again in the 2005 show "Seascape and Shipbuilding in Dutch Art" at the same institution.
Overview
Created in 1700, Fishing Boats near a Sandbank in a Calm is an oil painting by Dutch marine specialist Willem van de Velde the Younger. Executed during the Rococo period, the work portrays a tranquil seascape populated by several sailing vessels and a small rowing boat, all set against a softly lit horizon.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group of ships anchored near a sandbank, their masts rising gently from the placid water. In the foreground, a modest boat with two figures rows toward the larger vessels, suggesting everyday maritime activity rather than heroic naval drama. The overall atmosphere conveys a sense of quiet labor and the routine of coastal life.
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.
