Born in Rotterdam and working there and at Amsterdam, Simon de Vlieger, in the 1630s and 1640s, was one of the best-known, most important and influential Dutch maritime painters. He was part of an era of emerging marine art. De Vlieger decisively influenced the direction of Dutch marine art and was the link between the turbulent tonal paintings of his teacher Jan Porcellis and the sun-filled calm images of his student Willem van de Velde the Younger.

De Vlieger knew the sea and the ships that sailed it. He recorded accurately the distinguishing features of the various types of boats--from large warships to small fishing and transport vessels--and set them convincingly in the water. But it was De ...