A group of thirteen fishing people RMG PV5176, circa 1655

A group of thirteen fishing people a figure study showing five women, a girl and seven men, one on the right down over a fish. As indicated by an inscription on the back of the mount, this drawing was attributed to willem van de velde, the elder, in the early 18th century: 'wm. Vanderveld senr'. It is one of eleven drawings, mostly showing fishing people, from the milford collection, which was formed about 1730. The study was presumably made about 1655 when van de velde was particularly busy with grisailles, in which he introduced groups of fishing people in the foreground. The unsigned drawing may show the influence of simon de vlieger’s work, with whom van de velde was on friendly terms at the time. A group of thirteen fishing people. Date: circa 1655. Dimensions: Secondary support: 160 mm x 234 mm; Primary support: 120 mm x 182 mm; Mount: 315 mm x 483 mm. Collection: Fine art.