An English two-decker before the wind

This is one of five drawings broadly done in thick pencil. All have been very approximately dated to 1685 by the style.

Van de Velde depicts a near view of this English two-decker, seen from before the starboard beam of a ship, before the wind. Both the fore and main sails of the ship are unfurled and loose. The ship’s other sails, however, are tightly furled. There is a pendant at the main.