Brief Biography-Willem van de Velde the Elder was a native of Leiden and the father of artists Willem the Younger and Adriaen. His father was a naval captain, and his brother was a captain in the merchant navy. He spent his early years at sea before taking up painting. Esaias van de Velde was an alleged relation who may have mentored Willem in his first years. His pictures were mainly grisailles which are etchings made with reed pens. The technique used was to paint a white background on which the image was etched and shaded with black. He became an official marine artist for the Dutch navy, and in 1672, he moved to England as a marine artist for Charles II. He spent the rest of his life in London, and his remains lie in Saint James’s Church, Piccadilly.