Studies c. 1825 - 1875

Petrus Johannes Schotel made this sketch, Studies, with pen in the Netherlands sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Schotel was part of a family of painters, specializing in maritime scenes during a period when the Netherlands was keen to revive its naval and mercantile power. Maritime painting in the Netherlands has a long and distinguished history, going back to the 17th century and artists like Willem van de Velde. Its popularity is linked to the cultural importance of ships and the sea in Dutch society. The nation’s wealth depended on maritime trade, and naval power was a key aspect of its political identity. Paintings of ships can also be interpreted as a demonstration of national pride. To understand this sketch, we need to understand the ways in which it relates to Dutch culture, the art market, and institutions like the Royal Academy. Only then can we begin to appreciate its full historical meaning.