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Notes
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This scene is probably a variation on Abraham Storck’s paintings of the visit to Amsterdam in 1697 by Tsar Peter the Great, 1672–1725, during the ‘Great Embassy’, Peter’s grand diplomatic tour of Europe, 1697–1698 (see BHC0926). When Peter arrived in Amsterdam on 25 August the city celebrated with fireworks, festivities and a maritime display in the form of a mock battle, which he attended on 1 September. A contemporary account states that he was so delighted with the whole performance that at his request it was repeated several weeks later. Peter appeared in full regalia as the Tsar of Muscovy to watch the 41 ships that took part. The historic scene was graphically described in a contemporary print by Caspar Luyken. Abraham Storck, who specialised in pleasure yachts and ceremonial gatherings of ships, probably made several paintings of the mock battle soon afterwards.
According to the taste of the last quarter of the seventeenth century the artist of this painting has taken the pictorial formula for such a scene and generalised it. He has adopted colourful detail and a relatively low vantage point suggesting the viewer is also on a boat. The sky displays both clouds and sunshine, allowing for an interesting play of light and shade on the even waves. The arrangement of the boats suggests a comparison with another painting by Storck from the NMM’s collection (BHC0925).
Title
Peter the Great Inspecting a Ship at Amsterdam
Date
c.1700
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 83.8 x W 109.22 cm
Accession number
BHC0704
Work type
Painting
