PY5017

Portrait of the 'Zeven Provincien' Long Caption: Portrait of the 'Zeven Provincien', a celebrated 80-gun flagship of the Dutch United Provinces, notably de Ruyter's. She had a reputation for being a particularly good sailor, and was built in 1665 and broken up in 1694. On the broadside she mounted around fourteen guns on the gun deck, thirteen on the upper deck, three on the forecastle, eight on the quarterdeck and two on the poop. This is a view from the starboard quarter with lower masting indicated but no rigging. The tafferel decoration comprises the lion of the United Provinces on a crowned shield, surrounded by the arms of the seven provinces and the whole supported by two lions. On the upper counter is a shield bearing a lion rampant on crossed anchors, for the Admiralty of the Maas, and a ribbon on the lower counter (for related views see also PAH9355 and PAF6501). The drawing is inscribed in brown ink in the lower left, 'd seffen provensie gevoert bij different admirals' (the 'Seven Provinces' commanded by various admirals). It is rubbed on the back, an offset presumably having been taken from it. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: PAH5017 Artist: Willem van de Velde, the Younger Date: 1670? Medium: graphite; grey wash Size: 445 mm x 572 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.