Willem van de Velde the Elder
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This article is about the father and painter. For his firstborn son, also a painter, see Willem van de Velde the Younger. For his younger son, another painter, see Adriaen van de Velde.
Willem van de Velde the Elder (c. 1611, Leiden – December 13, 1693, Greenwich) was a Dutch painter. In his youth, he was a sailor. His speciality as a painter was ships, and he was the official artist of the Dutch fleet for a period, being present at the Four Days Battle and the St James's Day Battle to make sketches.
In 1672, Willem entered the service of Charles II of England, at a time when the Dutch Republic was at war with England (Third Anglo-Dutch War.
His sons Willem van de Velde the Younger and Adriaen van de Velde were also painters.
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