u/unknowntrooper1138

This is based on a historical accounts about famous Dutch buccaneer Laurens de Graaf and his largely French buccaneer or "Filibustier" crew and his exploits near Mexico during one of his many raids. He fought two large Spaniards with his frigate and accordingly to period sources he was wounded on the leg but returned to fight soon to encourage his men. Laurens was known in period sources as a tall blond haired mustachioed swashbuckler with a sense for bravado so I dressed him akin to French and Dutch naval fashion of the time with some tweaks for the region (no waistcoat under the coat) and I made his pistol in Spanish style as was his mustache. He had served as a sort of mercenary even Spain as a gunner so likely he aimed some guns himself, as some period sources seem to hint (have to say as a little accident in the drawing the cannon does not really line up with the main Spanish ship. but we cannot see the other one and the scene is caotic so yeah....). Went into some length to make his crew seem like a piratical group but keeping it still grounded with historical images and sources. Here used especially historical images of period French buccaneers and sailors. The exact account of this battle can be Benerson Little's book "The Golden Age of Piracy: The Truth Behind Pirate Myths" and on his blog here a the bottom of the page: https://benersonlittle.com/2023/01/23/pirate-ships-pirate-prey-pirate-hunters-eyewitness-illustrations-accompanying-stories/

This is a few months old scene by me which features my take on a rarely discussed obscure but at the time notorious French pirate known as Jean Hamlin (real name likely Pierre Egron). He was known to have a good personal ties to a corrupt colonial governor of Adoph Esmit of St. Thomas in the Danish Virgin Islands what is now St. Thomas in US Virgin Islands. Esmit did not only protect Hamlin from the English (Hamlin raided especially Dutch and English in the Caribbean and West Africa) but he also sold him confiscated English vessel at one point and this is what this scene depicts. This scene features the governor's enslaved African servant feeding a pet parrot (here the intent is not in any way to romanticize slavery but only to depict a calmer side of the colonial life). Hamlin is the central figure and the governor is there behind the table. On the wall of the governor's mansion is a map of the Caribbean based on a 1661 Dutch map. The governor has at the time fashionable oriental carpets also used very often as tablecloths. If someone is interested in the colonial history of Danish Caribbean I can recommend book The Danish West Indies Under Company Rule 1671-1754 by Waldemar Westergaard (1917) which you can find freely on archive.org.

Another historical pirate scene drawn by me a few months ago with a quite bit of backstory. This is based on an specific historical incident involving pirate crew of Robert Culliford of the Mocha Frigate (aka Resolution named by the pirates) and East India Company ship Dorrill in 1697 in the Indian Ocean. An Eyewitness on the EIC ship wrote of the pirate encounter how after a chase (period spelling here): “One [of the pirates likely the captain himself as depicted here] stept forward upon the forecastle and said, ‘Gentlemen, we want nott your shipp, but onlie youre monie.’ Wee told them wee had none for them, bidding them come alongside and take whatever they coulde get. “Then the parcel of Bloodhound Rogues clasht their cutlasses and said they woulde have oure money or oure hearts’ blood saying, ‘Do you nott know us to be the Mocha?'” The pirates were not fully competent in this battle and were forced to retread after causing and suffering nasty damages, but I felt this scene had some picturesque feel to it. Of special note is the musician. Captain of the EIC ship reported before this how the pirates played 'a Levitt [levet] with the musick of Hautboys and Drums' while another witness mentioned pirates playing trumpet and drumm. The mention of hautboys (oboes) was specific enough for me to include one here. Note also the speaking trumpet, commonly used for long distance hailing or shouting even if not mentioned in the sources specifically. One of the crewmen there is a "lascar" native sailor of some of the Indian ocean coast hired or even forced to work on board hips in the area. They were not always well treated aboard ships including pirates (indeed Culliford faced a mutiny of forced lascars at one point) but wanted to include this forgotten piece of history too. The information comes from an old book quoting period documents a lot called Pirates of the Eastern Seas (1618-1723). A Lurid Page of History (1933) by Charles Grey but the encounter is also included in The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd (2003) by Richard Zacks. Grey's book can be found freely on archive.org for those interested.

Pencil and graphite drawing of early 18th century pirates dueling with sword and pistol accordingly to reputed articles of pirate crews of Bartholomew Roberts and Richard Taylor. Special care has been used to reconstruct period clothing and arms. Can give more historical details if someone wants to know. This is an older piece from February. Have a few newer ones which I think are getting a bit better to share later.

A Marooned pirate on a Caribbean Shore. By me. Pencil on small A5 paper.