Seascapes and landscapes

Follow how artists throughout history have depicted our maritime world, and learn more about scenes in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection

A painting of the ship HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar with seafarers being tossed around in the churning waves below

Turner's 'The Battle of Trafalgar': a maligned masterpiece?

J.M.W. Turner's vast naval scene is a treasure of the Royal Museums Greenwich collection, but why was it so controversial when it was unveiled in 1824?
Two art object handlers hold a painting against a wall

Moving masterpieces: behind the scenes at the Queen's House

How do galleries move and hang artworks? Follow what happens as curators, conservators and art handlers prepare for an exciting new display at the Queen's House
A close-up view of a drawing of a tall ship at sea. The fine lines of the masts and sails contrast with the sepia tone of the paper, which shows signs of age and staining

A Sea of Drawings: the art of the Van de Veldes

Why do artists draw, and what can their sketches teach us about their skills and techniques? Take a closer look with the unique Van de Velde drawings collection
An engraving of the 17th century artist Willem van de Velde the Elder

The artistic legacy of the Van de Veldes

How the founders of British marine painting inspired generations of artists, including J.M.W. Turner
A rough drawing illustrating how shadow falls on a round object. Across the top is a hard to decipher note in flowing handwriting, and the bottom half of the drawing contains two balls with cross-hatching to indicate areas of shadow

A Van de Velde drawing lesson

Notes, inscriptions and observations fill many of the Van de Velde drawings. What can they tell us about their artistic process?
A detail from the van de Velde painting The Battle of Scheveningen, 10 August 1653

Sketching at sea: Van de Velde the war artist

Daring, dedication and an eye for detail – how Van de Velde the Elder risked his life to record naval battles as they happened
A lump of graphite and a metal lead holder on a piece of crumpled paper. The dark grey rock is shiny where it has been cut to be used for drawing, while the lead holder is a brass colour with a small nib of graphite sticking out of one end

Drawing paper and materials

What did the Van de Veldes use to create their detailed ship portraits and maritime sketches?
An oil painting from the 17th century showing a view of Greenwich, London from Greenwich Park. The Queen's House can be seen in the centre, and in the foreground a man can be seen sketching

The Van de Veldes in Greenwich

Find out about the Dutch artists’ time in the Queen’s House
A drawing of boats and people at the water's edge, with a cart pulled by horses on the shore

Artist secrets revealed: the techniques of the Van de Veldes

Explore how the Van de Veldes used their vast drawings archive to bring their maritime masterpieces to life
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