**early life and training**

paulus van der velden, a dutch artist, was born on may 5, 1837, in rotterdam, netherlands. his parents were jacoba van essel and joannes van der velden, a warehouse manager. from a young age, petrus (also known as paulus) began drawing lessons, later enrolling at the rotterdam academy of fine arts and applied arts. he furthered his artistic training by traveling to germany, france, and italy.

**artistic career in the netherlands and new zealand**

van der velden's early work focused on marine studies, a quintessential dutch genre. as seen in snow on the sand dunes, one of his few finished paintings from this period, his style was already showing signs of evolution towards more expressive works. in 1890, van der velden emigrated to new zealand with his family, where he continued to paint, often focusing on landscapes and harbor scenes. his work sketch of a sailing ship no. 1, now part of the te papa collection in wellington, showcases his skill in capturing the essence of maritime life.

**notable works and legacy**

- **snow on the sand dunes (te papa, wellington, new zealand)**: a small, yet powerful study of sand dunes, showcasing van der velden's expressive use of paint. - **sketch of a sailing ship no. 1 (te papa, wellington, new zealand)**: demonstrates his ability to capture the beauty of maritime scenes.

**museums and collections featuring van der velden’s work**

- the museum mauritshuis (netherlands): while not specifically featuring van der velden's work, it is a significant dutch art museum that showcases the country's rich artistic heritage. - rijksdienst beeldende kunst (the hague, netherlands): another notable dutch museum, its collection reflects the breadth of dutch art, including works from the golden age.

• view van der velden's artworks on ArtsDot.com
• explore more about dutch art and museums at museum boijmans van beuningen
• learn about other artists like kaleb de groot on ArtsDot.com

**conclusion:** paulus van der velden's artistic journey, from his early marine studies to his later landscapes in new zealand, showcases a unique blend of dutch tradition and personal expression. his legacy continues to inspire through the works preserved at te papa and other collections.