Artwork
Ships in a storm
Ships in a storm is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Andries van Eertvelt. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Andries van Eertvelt, a Flemish marine specialist active in the mid‑17th century, painted *Ships in a Storm* circa 1650. Executed in oil on canvas, the work captures a tempestuous seascape in which three vessels are caught in heavy surf. The composition is held by the Rijksmuseum, where it represents an early Flemish contribution to the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with maritime subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents three ships locked in a struggle against towering waves that threaten to engulf them. A muted, yellowish sky looms overhead, heightening the contrast between the dark hulls and the churning water. The painting conveys the perilous nature of sea travel in the era, emphasizing human vulnerability amid the forces of nature.
Technique & Style
Van Eertvelt employs a pronounced impasto on the cresting waves, applying thick layers of paint that give the sea a tactile, almost three‑dimensional quality. Light and shadow are manipulated to intensify the storm’s drama, while the restrained palette of somber blues and grays underscores the ominous atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created around 1650, the canvas reflects van Eertvelt’s pioneering role as one of the first Flemish artists to devote his practice to nautical themes. After changing hands over the centuries, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of Dutch Golden Age marine art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andries van Eertvelt (1590–1652), was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver who was one of the first Flemish artists to specialize in marine art. Several of his pupils also became prominent marine artists.
