Sea Battle
17th century (?)
Medium
Pen and brown ink; framing lines in pen and brown ink
Dimensions
3 3/16 x 9 1/16 in. (8.1 x 23 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. John H. Wright, 1949
Accession Number
49.150.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the dynamic *Sea Battle*, an anonymous Dutch drawing from the 17th century, capturing the fury of naval combat on a modest scale of just 3 3/16 x 9 1/16 inches. Executed in pen and brown ink with framing lines, this intimate work likely served as a quick study or preparatory sketch, evoking the chaos of clashing ships amid churning waves. In the Dutch Golden Age, a era of maritime supremacy, such scenes reflected the Netherlands' pivotal role in global trade and warfare, including fierce Anglo-Dutch Wars. Artists of this period often depicted naval triumphs to celebrate national pride,...