A Man O'War Lying at Anchor
The Dordrecht native Johannes Christiaan Schotel was the Netherlands’s preeminent marine painter in the nineteenth century. His clientele included Prince William VI (1772-1843) (the future William I, King of the Netherlands) and various international patrons, including the English diplomat and collector Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850). Schotel’s work, like that of his close contemporary J.M.W. Turner, reveals an admiration for, and dialogue with, seventeenth-century seascape painting, while often also reflecting recent history.
For a contemporary audience, the combination of the anchored man-of-war, blue sky and calm water, and apparently commercial, rather than military, activity of the waterfront in this sheet might have operated as an expression of the peace and prosperity that followed the end of the Napoleonic wars and control of the Netherlands. The scene is populated by figures—members of distinctly different classes—at work. On the quay at left, laborers roll barrels to be loaded onto, or unloaded from, a rotating crane. In the boat in the foreground, two officers in bicorn hats are accompanied by a group of sailors. Even the poor figures on the shore appear happy with their prospects.
(JSS, 8/23/2018)
For a contemporary audience, the combination of the anchored man-of-war, blue sky and calm water, and apparently commercial, rather than military, activity of the waterfront in this sheet might have operated as an expression of the peace and prosperity that followed the end of the Napoleonic wars and control of the Netherlands. The scene is populated by figures—members of distinctly different classes—at work. On the quay at left, laborers roll barrels to be loaded onto, or unloaded from, a rotating crane. In the boat in the foreground, two officers in bicorn hats are accompanied by a group of sailors. Even the poor figures on the shore appear happy with their prospects.
(JSS, 8/23/2018)
Artwork Details
- Title: A Man O'War Lying at Anchor
- Artist: Johannes Christiaan Schotel (Dutch, Dordrecht 1787–1838 Dordrecht)
- Date: early 19th century
- Medium: Pen and brown ink, watercolor; framing line in graphite
- Dimensions: Sheet: 17 11/16 × 24 13/16 in. (45 × 63 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Purchase, Daniel Ergmann Gift, 2014
- Object Number: 2014.107
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Johannes Christiaan Schotel
Vincent van Gogh
September 1889
Joseph Mallord William Turner
1843
Carl Georg Anton Graeb
1860–84
John Ruskin
1849–50
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.