The Durch, masters of marine painting

[Old Sailor]

Current show at the Peabody Museum.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203517304574306623410524140.html#a rticleTabs%3Dslideshow
Old Sailor

[Bill Perkins]

Interesting. In painting #7 it looks like one boat is running down wind with the big sprit set horizontally and acting a bit like a spinnaker pole .

Here's a drawing of the Dutch rig ; from John Leather's "Spritsails and Lugsails".
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/3087087249_90bc05ee04.jpg

[Thorne]

Perhaps it is just scandalized? (aka 'depowered')


http://www.pem.org/writable/resources/image/overlay_full/merchant-shipping-anchorage.jpg

This page lets you click the ENLARGE icon below the image on the left side, then click on the little telescope icon to the upper left to ZOOM in and look at the rig even closer -
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/displayRepro.cfm?reproID=BHC0916#content

[Peerie Maa]

It probably is scandalised, as they are reaching not running. An effective way to de-power the sail.

[Woxbox]

Agreed. I've seen the same thing in other paintings from that period. And always on a blustery day.