⛈️ What if the greatest marine painter of the 17th century witnessed an actual naval disaster?

Willem van de Velde the Younger transforms churning seas into poetry in "Ships in a Gale." Two vessels—one Dutch, one English—battle towering waves while debris from a third ship reminds us that nature always wins. This isn't just artistic imagination; it may depict the devastating 1653 storm that destroyed Dutch ships during the First Anglo-Dutch War.

Van de Velde learned from his father and became so legendary that King Charles II personally hired both of them when they moved to England. They revolutionized British marine painting and inspired Turner himself! 🎨

Ever felt like you're weathering your own storm? This masterpiece captures that universal struggle against overwhelming forces—and the resilience to keep fighting.