. English: A Fishing Boat off a Rocky Coast in a Storm with a Wreck This interpretation of ships heading for destruction on the rocks shows a continuous narrative. In this painting, Bellevois illustrates a broad-bottomed fishing boat filled with people, travelling towards a cluster of large, rough-hewn rocks. The danger of this shoreline is made apparent by the small ship, in the centre right, sinking by the stern. In the foreground, another ship has succumbed to this peril recently: detritus floats in the sea and survivors are gripping onto its masts which are still visible above the water.
. English: A Fishing Boat off a Rocky Coast in a Storm with a Wreck This interpretation of ships heading for destruction on the rocks shows a continuous narrative. In this painting, Bellevois illustrates a broad-bottomed fishing boat filled with people, travelling towards a cluster of large, rough-hewn rocks. The danger of this shoreline is made apparent by the small ship, in the centre right, sinking by the stern. In the foreground, another ship has succumbed to this peril recently: detritus floats in the sea and survivors are gripping onto its masts which are still visible above the water. On the right, in the foreground, several survivors have reached the relative safety of the land. Behind them rocks rise up acting as a reminder of the treacherous coast which threatens the vessels in the painting. To the right, on the coastline, a tower stands out as a symbol of security in marked contrast to the ship foundering below. Throughout his career, Bellevois expressed a steady interest in the subject of shipwrecks, often reworking the image of ships in high winds, charging towards steep, ominous cliffs. This painting is preceded by what may be a preparatory oil sketch, also, in the Museum’s collection. Although, the preparatory sketch is more muted and lacks two of the three vessels in the finished result, it anticipates this more developed version. In both sketch and finished painting, the composition carefully augments the potency of the wind. The ship’s mast, blown diagonally across the picture surface, finds its visual echo in the dark grey clouds in the sky. Moreover the clouds extend upwards into the air and reiterate the shape of the steep cliffs on the right. The painting has been signed by the artist. Since Bellevois rarely – if ever – signed or dated his works, there is some difficulty in dating this picture. The artist’s 'Storm off a Rocky Coast' in Brunswick, which is signed and dated 1664, closely resembles the present painting. Significantly, t
Size: 2684px × 1862px
Photo credit: © The Picture Art Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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