VELDE, Peter van den

Flemish painter, born in Antwerp. Here, he established a modest reputation as a marine painter specializing in portrayals of turbulent seas and sea battles. Comparatively little is known about his life and work, although, he became a Master of the Antwerp Guild of St Luke in 1654. From around 1671, he sold paintings regularly through the Forchoudt art dealers and exported a number of works to Vienna.

Debate continues as to Peter van den Velde’s relationship to the prominent Dutch van de Velde family of marine artists and, while there is no certainty about his connection to the van de Veldes, he is widely believed to have been a relative. It is believed by some critics that Willem van de Velde the Younger was his father.