Ships off a Coast
Adam Willaerts
1628
Medium
oil on panel
Dimensions
43.8; 7; 81
About this artwork
oil on panel
Art Historical Context
Adam Willaerts' *Ships off a Coast* (1628), an oil on panel measuring 43.8 cm high by 81 cm wide, captures the maritime world of the Dutch Golden Age. Housed in the Rijksmuseum, this yet panoramic work exemplifies Willaerts' mastery as a specialist in marine painting. Born to Flemish parents in London and later active in Utrecht and Haarlem,aerts depicted detailed scenes of ships, harbors, and sea life, often drawing from contemporary Dutch naval prowess during an era of global trade and exploration. Painted in oil on panel—a favored medium in the Dutch Republic for its smooth surface and dur...