Stormy Sea

This 18th-century oil painting depicts a dramatic shipwreck at sea. In the foreground is a frigate caught in a storm, listing and on the verge of crashing into a rock. The sail is crumpled and torn, the yards broken, and the sailors aboard are in disarray: some are trying to steer the ship, others seem to be clinging to safety. The sea is rough, with high, foaming waves battering the hull. To the left, a large rocky promontory juts out into the sea. On it, small human figures are seen observing, or perhaps trying to help, the shipwrecked sailors. In the lower left, a lifeboat filled with people desperately rowing to get away from the wreck. To the right, in the background, other ships can be seen, also in a storm; at least one appears severely damaged, with broken masts. The sky is filled with dark, dramatic clouds, stirred by the wind. The light comes from an opening in the clouds, creating a striking contrast between illuminated and shadowed areas, a typical theatrical effect of Baroque painting. The frame is original from the period. Dimensions: with frame 114 x 75 x 8 cm, without frame 92 x 54 cm