A Yacht in a Choppy Sea

Bonaventura Peeters 1614 - 1652

Summary

The fast sailing 'jacht' (from which we get our word yacht) was used as a dispatch vessel, and for carrying distinguished persons to and from larger ships. This one is running swiftly before the wind, towing a rowing boat in her choppy wake, with her Dutch ensign flying clearly. Another vessel has just crossed her bows, adding drama to the scene. A group of smartly dressed figures on board indicates the purpose of this particular voyage. The frothy waves have stiff peaks. Bonaventura Peeters I was the eldest and best known of a Flemish family of marine and landscape painters. Nothing is known of his early training, but in 1634 he joined the Antwerp Guild of St Luke. His naturalistic seascapes of the northern Dutch coasts, which are stylistically related to the work of Simon de Vlieger, Salomon van Ruysdael and Hendrick Vroom, seem to have been observed first-hand. He is well known for his imaginary storms and shipwrecks.