Willem van de Velde the Younger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willem van de Velde the Younger
|
|
|---|---|
_-_(by_Lodewijk_van_der_Helst,_1672).jpg)
Portrait of Van de Velde in 1672 by Lodewijk van der Helst
|
|
| Born | 18 December 1633 (baptised) |
| Died | 6 April 1707 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Known for | Marine painting |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Willem van de Velde the Younger (born 1633, died 1707) was a famous Dutch artist. He was known for painting amazing pictures of the sea, ships, and naval battles. His father, Willem van de Velde the Elder, was also a marine artist. Willem's brother, Adriaen van de Velde, painted landscapes.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Willem van de Velde was born in Leiden, a city in the Dutch Republic. He was baptised on December 18, 1633. He learned how to paint from his father, who was already a well-known marine artist.
Around 1650, Willem also studied with Simon de Vlieger. Simon de Vlieger was another respected marine painter of that time. Willem was also inspired by the artist Jan van de Cappelle. Jan van de Cappelle was very good at painting cloudy skies. He often showed the clouds reflecting in calm water.
Life and Work as an Artist
Willem van de Velde got married twice during his life. His first marriage was in 1652 to Petronella Le Maire. They later divorced. He lived near the harbor in Amsterdam. One of his neighbors was the famous admiral Michiel de Ruyter.
In 1656, Willem married Magdalena Walravens. She was the daughter of a ship's captain. Willem and Magdalena had four children together. Willem became very famous for his art even before he moved to London.
Willem often worked with his father. His father was skilled at drawing. He would create detailed black and white drawings of sea battles and seascapes. Willem the Younger would then use oil paints to add color to these drawings.
Moving to England
Willem and his father moved from the Netherlands to England. They left because of difficult times in their home country. There was a war with the French, which caused problems for artists.
In England, King Charles II hired both father and son. They each received a salary of £100. Willem the Younger's job was to help his father. He would color the drawings of sea-fights that his father made.
Willem also received support from the Duke of York. Many other important people also bought his paintings.
Later Life and Legacy
Willem van de Velde the Younger died on April 6, 1707. He passed away in Westminster, England. He was buried at St James's Church, Piccadilly. There is a special memorial inside the church for both him and his father.
What He Painted
Most of Willem van de Velde's best paintings show scenes off the coast of Holland. They often feature Dutch ships. His finest works are very detailed and lively. He was excellent at drawing ships and their rigging correctly.
He also included many figures in his paintings. These figures helped tell the story of the scene. Willem was very good at showing the sea, whether it was calm or stormy. The ships in his paintings are incredibly accurate. They are some of the best guides we have to what 17th-century ships looked like.
You can see many of Van de Velde's paintings and drawings today. Large collections are kept in the National Gallery in London. You can also find them at the National Maritime Museum and the Wallace Collection, both in London. Other important collections are at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC also has many of his works.
