Dutch ships running down towards the main fleet, May? 1672, c.1672 (graphite, grey wash)

Creator: Willem van de Velde, the Elder A stern view of Dutch ships running down to join the fleet on the horizon, where de Ruyter is shown on the right ('Ruijter') ahead of van Ghent ('gent') with Schram well astern on the left ('schram'). In the foreground is a ship with a pendant at the main and to the left a galjoot (probably van de Velde's) under mainsail, square-sail and topsail. On the left is a ship carrying a press of sail, including main and mizzen staysails and fore and main topmast staysails. This is one of sixteen drawings in the NMM collection that appear to be from a group of which at least seventy were originally numbered, though others like this are not, made before the Battle of Solebay in 1672. There is also one each in the British Museum and Ashmolean Museum.