Ships in a gale RMG PV5283, circa 1705

Ships in a gale a loosely drawn sketch, probably made towards the end of the artist’s life and related in style to pae5282 (though without the addition of wash). This is, in fact, two drawings, made on separate sheets that have been joined together, perhaps having been cut from a bound sketchbook. The two halves seem to depict alternate versions of the same scene, rather than a single composition – each showing the stern of a ship that has lost its foremast on the right, and a bow view of another vessel in the left distance. Paired in this way, these images reveal the experimental early stages of a composition as the artist makes subtle adjustments in the relative positions of each ship. Ships in a gale. Date: circa 1705. Dimensions: Primary support: 75 mm x 198 mm; Mount: 317 mm x 482 mm. Collection: Fine art.