Amsterdam, IJ – Willem Writs after Willem van de Velde II, 1771

“Gezigt van een Gedeelte der Stad Amsterdam: Naar het Schildery van W. van de Velde Ao. 1686, Berustende in de…

“Gezigt van een Gedeelte der Stad Amsterdam: Naar het Schildery van W. van de Velde Ao. 1686, Berustende in de Schryers Tooren. / Vue d’une partie de la Ville d’Amsterdam, d’après le Tableau de van de Velde en l’année 1686.” (View of a part of the city of Amsterdam. After the painting by W. van de Velde in the year 1686, preserved in the Schreierstoren). Etching by watchmaker and engraver Willem Writs (1732-1786) made in 1771 after a drawing by Isaak de Wit from 1770, which in turn was made after a painting by Willem van de Velde from 1686. Size (platemark) 27.3 x 41 cm.

The scene shows the final return of ‘De Gouden Leeuw‘ (The Golden Lion) in 1686 to the port of Amsterdam. The ship is depicted in an imposing manner, with its billowing sails in the late afternoon light. In this portrayal, ‘De Gouden Leeuw’ is thanked for its 20 years of service to the city and country.

It was the flagship of the Admiralty of Amsterdam, which had gained great fame in the naval fleet of Admiral Cornelis Tromp in numerous naval battles, such as in the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-’74). On the left, a salute is fired by the state yacht ‘Rotterdam’, while in the front, a yacht from the city of Amsterdam is sailing towards ‘De Gouden Leeuw‘, and numerous small boats have arrived to bid it a final farewell. After the tribute, the ship would be dismantled.

In the background, the skyline of Amsterdam is visible, particularly the eastern part of the harbour, where a large part of the port activities was concentrated at that time. Including shipbuilding; above the smoke plume of the salute is the tower of the ‘Oost-Indisch Zeemagazijn‘ (Storehouse of the East India Company) on Oostenburg, where ‘De Gouden Leeuw‘ was launched in 1666.

Other towers that we can recognize in this city profile are (from left to right): the tower of the Oosterkerk, behind numerous ship masts the Montelbaan tower, the Schreierstoren, and just behind it, the tower of the Zuiderkerk.

The painting now hangs in the Amsterdam Museum.

Literature: A.E. d’Ailly – Repertorium van de profielen der stad Amsterdam (1953), no. 147.

Price: Euro 1.350,- (incl. frame)