De Ruyter's fleet before the wind, 9-19 August 1665, 1665 (graphite, grey wash)

Creator: Willem van de Velde, the Elder This is an unsigned, long, horizontal format drawing. The horizon is low and the majority of activity takes place towards the left of the composition. There is a starboard quarter view of de Ruyter's new squadron before the wind, running down towards a large number of ships on the horizon. In the centre, de Ruyter is in the 'Delfland' while on the extreme left is the 'Stand en Landen', identified by the inscription '...stad en lande'. Beyond her, Stachower is in the 'Eendracht' and van Nes is in the 'Rotterdam'. It is inscribed 'soo wij... [cut] / op woonsdach [corrected from dijnxdach] den 19 august 1665 nade middach ten 3 urren ontrent / ...de wint W te noorde' (On Wednesday the 19 August 1665 in the afternoon about 3 o'clock; the wind west by north).