An English Royal Yacht 1674 - 1680

Willem van de Velde the Elder made this drawing of an English Royal Yacht using graphite on paper. The choice of graphite, a relatively unassuming material, allows for incredible detail. Here, the materiality of the graphite is crucial to the drawing's ethereal quality, capturing the fleeting nature of a ship at sea. Van de Velde was a master of pen and ink and was known for his 'pen paintings' that captured maritime scenes with great precision, especially those involving labor, politics and trade. The work involved in the drawing process is evident in the delicate lines that define the ship's ornate decorations and the figures on board. The use of graphite in this context elevates the status of drawing from a preliminary sketch to a finished work of art, blurring the lines between craft and fine art. It challenges us to consider the value and skill inherent in the art of draftsmanship.