S6008

The launch of an English ship, probably the 'James Galley' Long Caption: A port broadside view of a small ship after her launching being towed by two boats. A small mast is in place of a foremast and has a topsail hoisted on it. Another sail is being hoisted on a mast where the mainmast is stepped. There are several wherries in the right foreground and some ships at anchor in the background, with a yacht before the wind on the left. The land is in the distance. The ‘Charles Galley’ and the ‘James Galley’, both launched in 1676, were distinctive in being two-deckers with only one or two ports forward and aft on the lower deck (see PAI7276 and PAH1855). The artist has shown no ports on the lower deck, but the general appearance agrees more with that of the ‘James Galley’ as shown in Robinson number PAH1855; she had only one port aft on each side. This is an unsigned pencil and wash drawing by the Younger. It has been approximately dated by the subject and watermark. Credit line: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Object: PAF6610 Artist: Willem van de Velde, the Younger Date: 1676? Medium: graphite & wash, grey Size: Overall: 236 x 451 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.