Conservators at Royal Museums Greenwich have been closely studying drawings by Willem Van de Velde the Elder and Van de Velde the Younger, in order to better understand how to care for these fragile works of art.
Their research is also shining a light on how these remarkable 17th century artists worked and the materials they used.
"They used a lot of graphite, which is quite unusual for 17th century artists," explains Emmanuelle Largeteau, Paper Conservation Manager. "However, the graphite they used wasn’t really like the pencils we know today. Instead they used raw graphite, a naturally occurring mineral. The raw material would be cut down before being inserted into a holder, making it easier for the artist to hold and draw with."
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Royal Museums Greenwich is comprised of the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House. Learn stories of exploration, endeavour, wonder and awe at these four historic museums, all located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.’
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