Essential Information
| Type | Talks and tours |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | Wednesday 15 November 2023 | 7pm-8pm |
| Prices | Free |
Have you been inspired by The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea, and want to learn more? Are you intrigued by the creative dynamic of this talented Dutch family, as they navigated the stormy waters of the English court?
Join us for this free, evening talk given by maritime art historian, and leading expert on Dutch marine art, Remmelt Daalder.
Taking place in the historic Great Hall of the Queen's House, this event is a unique opportunity to learn more about these fascinating artists, in the place where they lived and worked.
This talk is made possible by the generous support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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Abstract
This year marks the 350th anniversary of the Battle of the Texel, which took place off the Dutch coast in August 1673.
Naturally, Willem van de Velde the Younger received commissions for paintings of this battle, which would prove decisive for the survival of the Dutch Republic. Like any marine painter, he had one problem to solve: how do you portray a massive event at sea?
Artists had been dealing with that challenge for centuries, and they came up with a variety of solutions, often depending on the wishes of the client and the information available. Even an eyewitness like Willem van de Velde the Elder did not oversee an entire sea battle from his galliot.
In the studio, the Van de Veldes had to transform the gathered information into an acceptable synthesis on a single canvas of a battle that sometimes lasted for days.
But in 1673, Van de Velde the Younger faced an additional challenge. He lived in England at the time and neither he nor his father had been present at the naval battle. So before a brush could be put to canvas, image research had to be done.
Using surviving drawings, Remmelt Daalder will retrace the steps Van de Velde took to capture the essence of the battle in paint.
About the speaker
Remmelt Daalder studied history at the University of Amsterdam. He worked at the Rotterdam Historical Museum and from 1990 until his retirement in 2014 at the Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam.
As Senior Curator he was responsible for the collections of fine art. The commercial partnership of the Van de Veldes, the two principal marine painters of the seventeenth century, was the subject of his Ph.D. thesis: Van de Velde & Son: Marine Painters (published in Leiden, Primavera Pers 2015, paperback edition 2020). He now works as a freelance researcher and advisor in the field of maritime art and history.
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Event information
Timings
Arrivals from 6.30pm, talk to begin at 7pm
Tickets
Places are free and the talk is suitable for all. Registration is required. Click here to book your tickets
Location
The talk will be taking place in the Great Hall of the Queen's House in Greenwich. For directions, please visit rmg.co.uk/queens-house
Going Dutch at Lunch
A series of free online lunchtime Zoom webinars to accompany The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea exhibition, currently on show at the Queen's House, Greenwich
