They stand ready to stick ye whale upon her head, her tail being upwards.

Object summary

Title: They stand ready to stick ye whale upon her head, her tail being upwards.
Object ID: AF-WD-0087E
Date made: 1720-1730
Place made: Netherlands, North Holland, Amsterdam
Engraver: Laan, Adolf van der
Draughtsman: Meulen, Sieuwert van der
Publisher: Schenk, Pieter
Object type: Engraving
Major collection: Nautical
Named collection: Allan Forbes Collection
On view: No

Description

The tail of a harpooned whale remains exposed and connected by rope to a boat in the foreground. Three other boats with harpooners approach the whale and prepare attack it.

One of a series of 12 engravings from Views of the Greenland Whale Fishery (Kline Visschery). Titles in Dutch, German, and English. Each inscribed S. Vdr. Meulen Delineavit. A Vander Laan Fecit. P. Schenk Iun: Excud[it]. Amst[erdam] Cum Priv[ilegio].