Ships & the Sea

Naval battles, harbor calms, shipwrecks, and shipbuilding — a thousand vessels from the age of sail to steam, drawn by artists who often knew the rigging firsthand.

1,105 public-domain artworks from six world museums · free to view and download

An Arctic Summer: Boring Through the Pack in Melville Bay by William Bradford

An Arctic Summer: Boring Through the Pack in Melville Bay

William Bradford, 1871

Beach Scene by James Hamilton

Beach Scene

James Hamilton, ca. 1865

The Thomas Hunt and the America by James Bard

The Thomas Hunt and the America

James Bard, 1852

The Trojan Women Setting Fire to Their Fleet by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée)

The Trojan Women Setting Fire to Their Fleet

Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), ca. 1643

Tankard by Gerrit Onckelbag

Tankard

Gerrit Onckelbag, 1700–1710

American Barque "Jane Tudor," Conway Bay by David Johnson

American Barque "Jane Tudor," Conway Bay

David Johnson, ca. 1855

Ceremonial Banner (Palepai Maju)

Ceremonial Banner (Palepai Maju)

Calligraphic Galleon by 'Abd al-Qadir Hisari

Calligraphic Galleon

'Abd al-Qadir Hisari, dated A.H. 1180/ 1766–67 CE

Stage Fort across Gloucester Harbor by Fitz Henry Lane (formerly Fitz Hugh Lane)

Stage Fort across Gloucester Harbor

Fitz Henry Lane (formerly Fitz Hugh Lane), 1862

開港七十年記念橫濱史料|Seventieth Anniversary of the Opening of Yokohama Port

開港七十年記念橫濱史料|Seventieth Anniversary of the Opening of Yokohama Port

Yorktown, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter

Yorktown, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes

Allen & Ginter, 1895

Cushing, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter

Cushing, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes

Allen & Ginter, 1895

San Francisco, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter

San Francisco, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes

Allen & Ginter, 1895

Chicago, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter

Chicago, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes

Allen & Ginter, 1895

Fridano, Spain, from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter

Fridano, Spain, from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes

Allen & Ginter, 1895

Sketch of a Ship at Anchor for The Landing of Columbus (from Sketchbook) by Albert Bierstadt

Sketch of a Ship at Anchor for The Landing of Columbus (from Sketchbook)

Albert Bierstadt, ca. 1891

American Cruiser (Saluting), from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco by Giles|W. Duke, Sons & Co.|Knapp & Company

American Cruiser (Saluting), from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Giles|W. Duke, Sons & Co.|Knapp & Company, 1889

American Cruiser, Bark Rigged, from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco by Knapp & Company|Giles|W. Duke, Sons & Co.

American Cruiser, Bark Rigged, from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Knapp & Company|Giles|W. Duke, Sons & Co., 1889

U.S. Frigate Chicago, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company

U.S. Frigate Chicago, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros.

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, 1889

Ship Study (from Sketchbook X) by William Trost Richards

Ship Study (from Sketchbook X)

William Trost Richards, 1885

Pendant in the form of a ship by Alfred André

Pendant in the form of a ship

Alfred André, probably late 19th century

U.S.S. Texas, from the Transparencies series (N137) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco by W. Duke, Sons & Co.

U.S.S. Texas, from the Transparencies series (N137) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

W. Duke, Sons & Co., late 1880s

Fête de S. A. Ismaïl Pacha à bord des bateaux de LL. A A. les princes, janvier 1867 by Gustave Le Gray

Fête de S. A. Ismaïl Pacha à bord des bateaux de LL. A A. les princes, janvier 1867

Gustave Le Gray, 1867

Medal to Captain Duncan N. Ingraham by Seth Eastman|James Barton Longacre

Medal to Captain Duncan N. Ingraham

Seth Eastman|James Barton Longacre, 1854

The Chinese Junk "Keying"–Captain Kellett–As she appeared in New York harbour July 13th, 1847–212 days from Canton.–720 tons burthen by Nathaniel Currier

The Chinese Junk "Keying"–Captain Kellett–As she appeared in New York harbour July 13th, 1847–212 days from Canton.–720 tons burthen

Nathaniel Currier, 1847

St. Andrews (?). Ships in the Harbor by David Octavius Hill|Robert Adamson|Hill and Adamson

St. Andrews (?). Ships in the Harbor

David Octavius Hill|Robert Adamson|Hill and Adamson, 1843–47

U. S. Ship North Carolina, 102 Guns by Nathaniel Currier

U. S. Ship North Carolina, 102 Guns

Nathaniel Currier, 1843

The Bay of Naples by Unknown

The Bay of Naples

Unknown, ca. 1835

Sailing Vessels at Wilders Plads, Copenhagen by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg

Sailing Vessels at Wilders Plads, Copenhagen

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, 1830

The Ship "Macon" by Nivelet

The Ship "Macon"

Nivelet, 1828–35

Knife Handle (Kozuka)

Knife Handle (Kozuka)

United States and Macedonian

United States and Macedonian

Ships in a Breeze (Liber Studiorum, part II, plate 10) by Joseph Mallord William Turner|Charles Turner

Ships in a Breeze (Liber Studiorum, part II, plate 10)

Joseph Mallord William Turner|Charles Turner, February 20, 1808

Interior of a German Battleship by Unsen

Interior of a German Battleship

Unsen, 19th century

Trade Card for J & J Smith, Printers by Anonymous, British, 19th century

Trade Card for J & J Smith, Printers

Anonymous, British, 19th century, 19th century

Ceremonial Textile (Tampan) by Lampung artist

Ceremonial Textile (Tampan)

Lampung artist, 19th century

Pictorial print

Pictorial print

Campagne du Vice-amiral Cte d'Estaing by Pierre Ozanne

Campagne du Vice-amiral Cte d'Estaing

Pierre Ozanne, 1778

Design for a Vignette: Harbor Scene by Charles Percier

Design for a Vignette: Harbor Scene

Charles Percier

Design for the Frigate "La Didion" by Anonymous, French, 18th century

Design for the Frigate "La Didion"

Anonymous, French, 18th century, 18th century

Dutch Ships at Anchor with a Yacht Lying Head to the Wind by Willem van de Velde II

Dutch Ships at Anchor with a Yacht Lying Head to the Wind

Willem van de Velde II, 1664

A Dutch Ship in a Strong Breeze by Willem van de Velde I

A Dutch Ship in a Strong Breeze

Willem van de Velde I, ca. 1665

Naues Mercatoriæ Hollandicæ per Indias Occidentales (Dutch East Indiaman) by Wenceslaus Hollar

Naues Mercatoriæ Hollandicæ per Indias Occidentales (Dutch East Indiaman)

Wenceslaus Hollar, 1647

After the Battle by Reinier Nooms, called Zeeman

After the Battle

Reinier Nooms, called Zeeman, 17th century

Apothecary jar (albarello)

Apothecary jar (albarello)

Fleet of Galleys Escorted by a Caravel from The Sailing Vessels by Frans Huys|Pieter Bruegel the Elder|Hieronymus Cock

Fleet of Galleys Escorted by a Caravel from The Sailing Vessels

Frans Huys|Pieter Bruegel the Elder|Hieronymus Cock, 1561–65

U.S. Despatch Boat Dolphin, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company

U.S. Despatch Boat Dolphin, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros.

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, 1889

Duilio, Italian Navy, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company

Duilio, Italian Navy, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros.

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, 1889

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