Dutch ships in a sea, 28 May-7 June 1665, 1665 (graphite, grey wash)

Creator: Willem van de Velde, the Elder This unsigned drawing depicts a fresh breeze and a heavy sea. In the foreground, van de Velde's galjoot is visible, with a quartering wind running down towards a ship in the left background which has carried away her foremast and bowsprit. To the right is a lee-bow view of two other ships close-hauled on the port tack under topsails and mizzen. There is another galjoot before the wind. The drawing is inscribed in the upper right corner, 'No. 16/somendag den 7en Jnij 1665 soo ick na den schip loop dat fock mast & bouchspriet verloren hadd ind storm' (No. 16, Sunday 7th June 1665, as I ran down towards the ship which had lost her foremast and bowsprit in the gale). There is another drawing of this same incident which shows the damaged ship in more detail.