[PREORDER] An English Warship Firing Salute

This product is a preorder and will not be shipped if purchased. It will be shipped at the start of June. Thank you for understanding. <3

Information about this painting:

This painting, English Warship Firing a Salute, is a remarkable example of maritime art by the Dutch painter Willem van de Velde the Younger. Created around 1690, it shows an English warship firing a ceremonial salute, a moment captured with careful attention to detail and atmosphere. The cannon’s smoke drifts across the calm sea, while smaller boats in the background help set the scene.

Van de Velde was known for his precise and realistic depictions of ships. After moving from the Netherlands to England in the 1670s, he became a court painter for King Charles II. His work often celebrated England’s naval strength and was based on both observation and skilled draftsmanship.

In this painting, the ship is shown in all its grandeur, with detailed rigging, sails, and the dramatic moment of the gun salute. The soft lighting and still water enhance the calm yet powerful presence of the warship.

Originally part of a private collection, the painting was eventually gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains today, though not currently on display. The painting’s size and subject suggest it was meant to honor naval power and perhaps even commemorate a specific event or ship, serving as both art and historical record.