Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger were the leading marine painters of the 17th century. From their studio in the Queen’s House, father and son transformed marine painting in Britain. Yet their paintings only tell part of the story. Royal Museums Greenwich is home to almost 1,500 drawings by the Van de Veldes. Together they provide a fascinating insight into the world of a 17th-century artist's studio, and show how drawing was at the heart of their creative process: subjects sketched, ideas tested and inspiration shared. Throughout 2023 we'll be releasing a series of films and articles exploring this unique collection, and providing fresh insight into how the Van de Veldes worked. The entire collection has also been recently digitised, allowing anyone to see the drawings for themselves online. Three hundred and fifty years after they were first made, these delicate works on paper still catch the eye and capture the imagination. Take a closer look, and discover the art of the Van de Veldes. Take a closer look Tap the cards to explore the Van de Velde drawings collection. The Van de Veldes in Greenwich Find out about the Dutch artists’ time in the Queen’s House Paper and materials What did the Van de Veldes use to create their detailed ship portraits and maritime sketches? 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 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 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? The legacy of the Van de Veldes How the founders of British marine painting inspired generations of artists, including J.M.W. Turner Collections highlights A kaag near the shore PAF6814 Weyschuit and other shipping near a rocky coast PAE5154 Studies of a ship and of a boat pitching and sending PAF6667 A fight in boats PAF6950 Two men seated on spars PAE5355 Van de Velde with the Dutch rear Squadron 29 May - 2 June 1672 PAF6867 A calm with a galliot and a ship at anchor PAF6929 A Dutch flagship with a fresh beam wind PAE5228 The battle of the Texel (Kijkduin), 11/21 August 1673, sixth part PAJ2533 Pinks hauled up on the shore PAF6745 Search the whole collection Explore the entire Van de Velde drawings archive online at Royal Museums Greenwich Start searching Visit the exhibition The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea – visit for free at the Queen's House. Exhibition The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea From across the sea, an art revolution is coming. Discover the art of the Van de Veldes at the Queen's House Visit now Work in focus The Solebay Tapestry Discover the story behind the largest tapestry in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection Find out more Conservation Conservation in Action Follow one of the most ambitious public conservation projects ever undertaken at the Queen’s House Find out more Feature History of the Queen's House The centre of Greenwich for hundreds of years, the beautiful Queen's House has also been at the heart of royal life Find out more Event Behind the scenes tours Explore the inner workings of Royal Museums Greenwich and see conservation in action on one of our guided tours Book now Shop The Artist's Studio: A Cultural History £30.00 An exciting narrative and visual history of The Artist's Studio, examining the myth and reality of the creative space from early times to today... Buy Now Art that inspires Sign up to our newsletter to learn more about the art collection at the Queen's House, and be the first to hear about upcoming events and exhibitions at Royal Museums Greenwich. Sign up Our partners This project has been made possible with support from the Getty Foundation through The Paper Project initiative. Credits Curator of Art and Project Lead Curator: Dr Allison Goudie Paper Conservation Manager: Emmanuelle Largeteau Digital production: James Gill and Elizabeth Oliver Video production: Tailored Media A Sea of Drawings builds on the conservation research project on the Royal Museums Greenwich Van de Velde drawings undertaken in 2012-2014, led by Clara de la Peña McTigue (now Lead Paper Conservator at National Galleries of Scotland) and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.