Family of Dutch artists. Both Willem van de
Velde the Elder (1611-93) and his son Willem
van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) painted
sea battles for Charles II and James II
(having settled in London 1672). Another son
Adriaen van de Velde (1636-72) painted
landscapes. Willem the Younger achieved an
atmosphere of harmony and dignity in highly
detailed views of fighting ships at sea. The
National Maritime Museum in Greenwich,
London, has a fine collection of his works.