A small merchant vessel, probably Mediterranean RMG PW7020, circa 1700

A small merchant vessel, probably mediterranean this rapid but accurate drawing, apparently made from close quarters, depicts a small three-masted vessel viewed from the starboard quarter. If the craft is indeed a mediterranean one it is possible that it was drawn by van de velde when he visited the mediterranean in 1694 possibly suggesting an earlier dating. There are in the nmm’s collection a number of drawings by van de velde in black chalk on grey paper. Some of these are similar to others in the collection made by the english marine painter samuel scott in the 1720s and 1730s. The drawing is unsigned. A small merchant vessel, probably mediterranean. Date: circa 1700. Dimensions: Sheet: 294 x 479 mm; Mount: 405 mm x 556 mm. Collection: Fine art.