Calm- a States yacht and many other vessels in a light air RMG BHC0889

Calm: a States yacht and many other vessels in a light air
A Dutch states yacht is shown with many other vessels in a calm sea. The states yacht is in the centre flying a pendant and a common Dutch ensign at the masthead. She is firing a salute as a boat pulls away from her carrying distinguished visitors. The yacht is one laid down in 1645 for Prince Frederik Hendrik but completed after his death in 1647 for his son Willem II. In the left foreground is a pont or raft, with a deckhouse and close by is the fore part of a smaller vessel. She may be a trekschuit with a long overhanging bow and an awning amidships. The wreath above the awning which is attached to a stick almost certainly signifies a place of refreshment. Just beyond these two vessels is a wijdschip and there are other vessels beyond the wijdschip. The wijdship has a flag of red, white and red with a vane of the same colours which probably signifies a vessel of Hoorn. On the right is smalschip with her mainsail lowered almost to the deck and close under her stern is another ship’s boat or barge pulling to the right. To the left of the smalschip is a hoeker crowded with people, with other vessels beyond. A barrel floats in the right foreground which may mark the end of a net, the other end being further to the left, showing the round iron frame at the open end. The object in the water in the left foreground is the iron frame of a fish or eel net. The same yacht is shown in another painting in the collection, see BHC0910.

Calm: a States yacht and many other vessels in a light air