East Indiamen off a Coast — Hendrik Cornelisz. Vroom

Hendrik Cornelisz. Vroom. Painted c. 1600 - c. 1630.

Departure of the fleet of Jacob van Neck, 1598 by Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, 1599. After a fourteen-month voyage to Asia, in July 1599 Van Neck returned with a valuable cargo (mainly spices) to Amsterdam. It was the first successful Dutch trading expedition to the Indonesian archipelago. The voyage was financed by a group of Amsterdam merchants who combined to back the venture. Their example was soon emulated. Companies were formed in several cities. This was followed by the foundation of an umbrella enterprise. To be able to compete more effectively with foreign rivals, the grand pensionary, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt proposed that the different companies unite to form the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company or VOC) which was duly founded in 1602.

From the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

oil paint (paint), canvas · Original size: 199 × 104 cm · Gift of J.W. IJzerman, The Hague

Print: 119 × 62.2 cm, printed on Hahnemühle FineArt archival cotton paper. Museum-grade reproduction quality, true to the colours and detail of the original work.

Frame (optional): a custom-made wooden frame in a matte black finish, cut to the exact dimensions of this print, with an off-white passe-partout mat and protective glazing. Ready to hang.

Source: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200108390. Image released under CC0 by the Rijksmuseum.