Portrait of the 'Essex', c.1660 (graphite, grey wash)

Creator: Willem van de Velde, the Elder Portrait of the 'Essex', 60 guns. She was built in 1653 and taken by the Dutch in 1666. She is viewed from slightly before the starboard beam. The fore course, mizzen, topsails and clewed mainsail are lightly sketched in pencil. The drawing has been rubbed on the back. It is probably based on an offset and has been rapidly and untidily worked up with pencil and wash and later strengthened by a few touches of pen and brown ink round the ports. It was probably drawn as the ship was leaving the Dutch coast with the Restoration squadron.