A fore topsail and a course with sheets let fly RMG PW7023, circa 1700

A fore topsail and a course with sheets let fly van de velde made a large number of drawings of parts of ships including their sails and rigging. These provided the information he needed for his oil paintings. The fore course blowing up against the forestay and the fore topsail loosed on the cap and blowing out is viewed from forward. There is a sketch of a ship before the wind, bow view in the upper right part of the sheet, the whole possibly drawn rapidly from life with great certainty of touch. The drawing is unsigned. A fore topsail and a course with sheets let fly. Date: circa 1700. Dimensions: Sheet: 188 x 176 mm. Collection: Fine art.