Repro ID: BHC0328
Title: The Mary (1677) arriving with Princess Mary at Gravesend in a fresh breeze.
Description: The painting shows the scene viewed from the middle of Gravesend Reach looking upstream to the west and to Northfleet. The tower of Gravesend church is visible in the extreme left background with Tilbury in the distance. On the left there are two Dutch smack-rigged flutes, anchored lashed together, which were used as transports. Beyond them and to the right an English yacht at anchor is saluting with the masts of other Dutch transports visible beyond. Closer another royal yacht, in port-bow view, is coming up into the wind and preparing to drop anchor. Around her and in the foreground are a number of wherries and three official barges rowing up-stream after the 'Mary' with the princess aboard, which is just about to anchor and is taking in her sails. She is seen starboard-broadside view and, importantly, Princess Mary is shown in the stern, thus forming the central point of the painting. The yacht proclaims her significance with the red ensign at the stern and the Union jack flying on her bowsprit. The crowded shipping includes three other English Royal yachts and over a dozen Dutch vessels of which some are firing salutes.
The artist was the younger son of Willem van de Velde the Elder. From early 1674 both the van de Veldes were expressly patronized by Charles II for this purpose, the father to draw sea fights and the son - who was by far the more accomplished painter - 'for putting the said Draughts into Colours'. After his father's death in 1693 he was officially engaged to be present at and record significant maritime events.
Creator: Willem van de Velde, the Younger
Date: c.1689
Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London
