BHC0780

Shipping off the English coast Long Caption: Shipping is shown off a coast which is apparently intended to be English. Above the sheer cliff face on the left is a small fort of Henry VIII's style flying the red cross of St George on its flag. It is possible that this indicates Fort Paull in the Humber Estuary. The fort is occupied by soldiers and its wall adjoins the forbidding rocks. On the beach below several figures stand in the shadows, looking out at the shipping at sea. Seagulls are shown hovering on the cliffs and the scene is atmospheric and evocative. A Dutch ship is shown in starboard-bow view flying the Dutch flag. On the far right is an English warship with her sails lowered, flying the red ensign, and in front is a smaller yacht with passengers on board, shown in port-broadside view. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Palmer Collection Object: BHC0780 Artist: Simon de Vlieger Date: circa 1642-1643 Medium: oil on panel Size: 610 mm x 813 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.