The Dutch fleet near the shore

In the foreground, a boat is picking up men from the shore near a low embankment. In the centre middle-distance, a port bow view of a flagship under sail, having a flag at the main and a pendant at the fore. Across the background, a number of ships at anchor and small crafts sailing round them.

This is an unsigned pencil and wash drawing by the Elder. It is inscribed on the back in a late hand ‘W Van der Velde 1677’.