Ludolf Bakhuysen: Ships in Distress in a Heavy Storm, ca. 1690, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Ludolf Bakhuysen (1631-1708) was born in Germany, but moved to Amsterdam in 1649. Starting off as a calligrapher and clerk, he soon became well-known for his marine paintings and pen-drawings, especially after Willem van de Velde the elder and his son left for England in 1672. His works were highly appreciated for their impressive depiction of nature (rather than historical accuracy). He painted backgrounds for the then famous history painter Bartholomeus van der Helst, received numerous commissions from people in high places, and even taught Tsar Peter the Great how to draw ships during his stay in Holland. Bakhuysen was a modest man who worked hard and was eager to learn. At 71, he proudly presented his first etchings.
Whenever the weather turned bad, instead of seeking the comforts of home, Bakhuysen went to the Zuiderzee (the largest body of water within the Netherlands) to study the workings of nature. After such trips, he locked himself into his studio to paint in solitude. He painted this dramatic scene, ‘Ships in Distress in a Heavy Storm’, around 1690, when he was almost 60 years old. This large canvas (150 by 227 cm) shows the excellent skills with which he captured the semitranslucency of the backlighted sea water, as well as the violent storm and foamy waves that jolt the ships about.