Turmoil and Tranquillity Maritime Art Exhibit
The Sea Through the Eyes of Dutch and Flemish Masters, 1550-1700
Sep 11, 2008
The Queen's House, at London's National Maritime Museum, has one of Europe's finest collections of seascapes and coastal views by Dutch and Flemish artists of the 16th and 17th centuries. Drawing on their magnificent collection the museum has selected 76 fine examples to display in their latest exhibition entitled: Turmoil and Tranquillity: The Sea through the Eyes of Dutch and Flemish Masters, 1550-1700.
The exhibition includes work by Bonaventura Peeters the Elder (Flemish, 1614-1642), Simon de Vlieger (Dutch, 1600-1653), Ludolf Backhuysen (Dutch 1631-1708), Ferdinand Bol (Dutch, 1616-1680), Jan Porcellis (Flemish 1580-1632), Jacob van Ruisdael (ca. 1628-1682) and the Willem van de Veldes, both Elder (1611-1693) and Younger (1633-1707) . Interestingly, King Charles II asked the Willem van de Veldes to move to London, ca. 1672, and for the next twenty years their studio was located in the Queen's House, the setting for this exhibition.
These images cross the boundaries between history and landscape painting and Turmoil and Tranquillity looks at the development of, and increasing demand for, maritime art as a separate and distinct genre. The questions addressed include:
- How and why these artists were so successful at capturing the life of the sea such as the storms and shipwrecks for which mid-seventeenth century Dutch seascapes are renowned.
- How they used this art form as a narrative to tell the stories of the great naval battles.
- How the Dutch masters captured scenes from everyday life, such as fishing, whaling and trading, quiet shorelines and busy quaysides.
- The place of symbolism – looking especially at the portrayal of ships as symbols for the soul as shown in two particular paintings: the Wreck of the ‘Amsterdam’ by an anonymous Flemish artist (ca. 1630), and Jonah and the Whale (1610-1620) by Adam Willaerts (1577-1664). Both paintings can be viewed on the website of the National Maritime Museum, see Wreck of the ‘Amsterdam’ and.Jonah and the Whale.
Highlights of the Exhibition
- Highlights of the exhibition include The Merchant Shipping Anchorage in the Texel by Dutch artist Ludolf Backhuysen (or Bakhuyzen, 1663-1708). Backhuysen portrayed a variety of sea vessels against rough waters to demonstrate the importance of the sea.
- Bonaventura Peeters the Elder's Sunlight on a Stormy Sea, ca.1640s; shows the full force of the elements. As a ship is tossed by the storm it is lit by sunlight piercing clouds above. A pair of dolphins swim across the painting.
- Another important painting is Portrait of Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter, (1667), by Ferdinand Bol. As Lieutenant-Admiral-General of the United Provinces, Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (1607-1676) was one of the most famous admirals in Dutch history. This impressive painting shows him with his ship, the Zeven Provincien, in the background. It is thought that Bol asked Willem van de Velde the Younger to paint the background.
- The Beach at Scheveningen, (1633) by Simon de Vlieger, captures another aspect of marine activity. This shore-based fishing scene, with the village and spire of Scheveningen church in the background, shows the importance of fishing to the Dutch economy. Fishing boats rest in shallow waters while fishermen sell their produce on the beach.
The exhibition also includes work by Cornelis van Wieringen, Joachim Patinir, Andries van Eertvelt, Jan Brueghel the Elder, Hendrick van Minderhout, Gasper van Wittel, (known as Vanvitelli), Pieter Mulier, Younger, Abraham Storck and others.
Turmoil and Tranquillity - the Catalogue
A fully illustrated catalogue, published to accompany the exhibition, is available, from the Museum shop or online, price £35.00 hardback or £25.00 paperback.
This exhibition is open until 11 January 2009 and full details of all events linked to it can be obtained from the National Maritime Museum.
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