Portrait of the 'Success'?, c.1675 (pencil)

Creator: Willem van de Velde the Younger Viewed from close on the starboard bow, a portrait of what may be the 'Success', 32-gun fifth-rate, built 1658 as the 'Bradford', renamed 1660, wrecked 1680. There are square decorated ports and probably a quarter-badge and not a gallery. This is probably a 32-gun ship. It is similar to the 'Speedwell' (PAH1843), and the drawing is on the same paper, but the 'Speedwell' is shown with only four ports to the aftermost kid, and the ladder to the quarterdeck is on the starboard side. There is a very similar drawing of the 'Success', also bow view and on the same paper, in the Victoria and Albert Museum (D. 1390-89), and shows five ports to the aftermost skid. This drawing is made with freedom and accuracy but without the addition of any wash. The ship is shown high out of the water and without guns. It is possible that the drawing was made about the same time while the ship was laid up in ordinary. Rubbed on the back, it has probably had an offset taken from it.