A Dutch statenjacht

**abhovi** · #1 10-09-2017, 08:47 AM

Making luxury boats is not really my thing, but in this case I made one, because for one of my sons Photoshop 'paintings' I thought it was needed. So I started building this 17th century water limousine. It was a vessel that was used by cities and large companies like the East and the West India Company, and by the admiralties, to transport their high officials. Representatives of the cities travelled to The Hague to attend the meetings of the States General, leaders of the companies did the necessary inspections of in- and outgoing ships in them and of course the Prince of Orange had one. Finally the admiralties joined the party.
The vessels were highly comfortable with luxurious rooms with beds behind curtains for the classy passengers, a room for the skipper, who had a professional crew at his disposal and a galley in which the cook made the most delicious meals. Traveling with such a vessel outclassed riding in a coach by far.

I made this model after a drawing Nicolaes Witsen prints in his book 'Aloude en Hedendaagse Scheepsbouw en Bestier' (1671) but had no intention to copy that particular vessel in detail. I took parts from other contemporary models to get what I wanted. This was not a very wise decision, because it took me lot of time to get a composition of the decorations I liked. On top of that I forgot to take pictures of the building process. But I showed those so many times that I can hardly expect anyone to feel offended.
This type of vessel is not my cup of tea, because I think it was too decadent for a sailing vessel, but after all I was satisfied with the result, showing that even these luxury boats were victim of the elements, showing wear and tear as well as the workhorses I showed you in another thread.
I hope you like it, and especially the Photoshop painting of the View of Dordrecht Emiel made. In an earlier stage I showed one of his early effort, but this is what I really wanted.