ABSTRACT
Following the example of seventeenth-century marine painters such as Van de Velde, Bakhuizen, and Nooms, the nineteenth-century marine painter saw ships as the main subject of his paintings, rather than water, the natural environment of shipping. As such, he presents himself as a specialist in the painting of maritime subjects, possessing a high degree of specific expertise. The marine painter’s perspective on his craft can be further clarified by focusing on his choice of subjects. What did marine painters choose to paint in the nineteenth century?
