# Two Galleys at Sea

**Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus** (Flemish, 1523–1605)  
ca. 1587 – 1590  
Recto: pen and brown ink over black chalk on laid paper Verso: pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, with corrections by the artist in white opaque paint, over black chalk on laid paper  
H x W: 10.7 × 15 cm (4 3/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1901-39-2481. [The museum's record](https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/view/objects/asitem/id/9107).

## About this work

Recto: Two galleys shown obliquely from the stern. Wind inflates the sails, one of which is decorated with an image of the sun.

_Text from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum._

Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus painted this in about 1587 – 1590, aged about 64. It is now at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.

### How it was made

- **Chalk.** Natural black, red and white chalks. Used together on toned paper they could give the warmth of flesh with very little effort, and they were favourites for studies from life.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/jan-van-der-straet-called-stradanus)

Flemish, 1523–1605

Jan van der Straet, known as Stradanus, trained in Antwerp before settling in Florence around 1550, where he worked for the Medici under Giorgio Vasari on the decoration of the Palazzo Vecchio. He designed tapestries for the Medici factory and many drawings for engravers in Antwerp, including the Nova Reperta, celebrating modern inventions, and the Venationes, a large series of hunting scenes. He spent the rest of his life in Florence.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was about 64
- Real size: about 4 × 6 in (11 × 15 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 16th century
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1706.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1706/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/two-galleys-at-sea-si-chndm-1901-39-2481).