<strong>Seafaring life: </strong>Author and historian Huw Lewis-Jones has compiled incredible images from vintage seafarers' sketchbooks, including this painting by Frenchman Theodore Gericault of a storm off Le Havre, France, in 1818.
Seafaring life: Author and historian Huw Lewis-Jones has compiled incredible images from vintage seafarers' sketchbooks, including this painting by Frenchman Theodore Gericault of a storm off Le Havre, France, in 1818.
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Digital image courtesy Getty's Open Content Program
<strong>High seas:</strong> The artwork on the left depicts a boat in stormy seas and is by British mariner-artist John Everett, who crossed the Atlantic several times in the 1920s. On the right is the Englishman John Kingsley Cook's "Informal pose in the Wheelhouse, 1941."
High seas: The artwork on the left depicts a boat in stormy seas and is by British mariner-artist John Everett, who crossed the Atlantic several times in the 1920s. On the right is the Englishman John Kingsley Cook's "Informal pose in the Wheelhouse, 1941."
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
<strong>Exploring the world</strong>: Dutch pastor Jan Brandes sailed for the West Indies in the late 1700s. He produced colorful portraits of creatures, as well as life on deck, such as this one.
Exploring the world: Dutch pastor Jan Brandes sailed for the West Indies in the late 1700s. He produced colorful portraits of creatures, as well as life on deck, such as this one.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
<strong>Arctic images</strong>: Dutch seafarer Louis Apol produced pictures depicting the treacherous conditions in the Arctic.
Arctic images: Dutch seafarer Louis Apol produced pictures depicting the treacherous conditions in the Arctic.
Collection Het Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam
<strong>Early map of Venice:</strong> Ottoman cartographer Piri Reis painted the Venetian lagoon in the 1500s.
Early map of Venice: Ottoman cartographer Piri Reis painted the Venetian lagoon in the 1500s.
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
<strong>Flying fish: </strong>Seafarers' journals often included drawings and diagrams of fish and sea creatures. Dutchman Adriaen Coenen produced his "Visboek," a book of fish, while at sea. This page depicts a flying fish, found in tropical climes.
Flying fish: Seafarers' journals often included drawings and diagrams of fish and sea creatures. Dutchman Adriaen Coenen produced his "Visboek," a book of fish, while at sea. This page depicts a flying fish, found in tropical climes.
National Library of the Netherlands, The Hague (78 E 54)
<strong>Island sketches</strong>: German surgeon Sigismund Bacstrom painted this plate: "A View of Staaten Island with a Herd of Seals." Bacstrom is also known for producing one of the earliest known drawings of a whale.
Island sketches: German surgeon Sigismund Bacstrom painted this plate: "A View of Staaten Island with a Herd of Seals." Bacstrom is also known for producing one of the earliest known drawings of a whale.
Western Americana Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven
<strong>Two sides of the story:</strong> Dutch artist Willem van de Velde sketched scenes in the Anglo-Dutch War in the late 1600s -- memorably from both sides in the conflict. He worked as an official war artist for the Dutch and then moved to London, working for King Charles II.
Two sides of the story: Dutch artist Willem van de Velde sketched scenes in the Anglo-Dutch War in the late 1600s -- memorably from both sides in the conflict. He worked as an official war artist for the Dutch and then moved to London, working for King Charles II.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
<strong>Bathing in the ocean: </strong>British hydrographer and captain Owen Stanley sketched his crew bathing in the ocean during his survey voyage on HMS Rattlesnake in 1848.
Bathing in the ocean: British hydrographer and captain Owen Stanley sketched his crew bathing in the ocean during his survey voyage on HMS Rattlesnake in 1848.
Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney
<strong>Sketches from the sea:</strong> French fisherman Paul-Emile Pajot was known for his intricate and spectacular sketches of marine life and people.
Sketches from the sea: French fisherman Paul-Emile Pajot was known for his intricate and spectacular sketches of marine life and people.
Collection musée de l'Abbaye Sainte-Croix, Les Sables-d'Olonne
<strong>Moments from the ocean:</strong> Here's more of Pajot's work. A multi-talented man, he also wrote poetry.
Moments from the ocean: Here's more of Pajot's work. A multi-talented man, he also wrote poetry.
Collection musée de l'Abbaye Sainte-Croix, Les Sables-d'Olonne
<strong>World-changing:</strong> Lewis-Jones says a lot of the images show first-hand how people's understanding of the world was changing. "That's what a lot of these big expeditions did -- change the way people see the world," Lewis-Jones tells <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Ftravel" target="_blank">CNN Travel</a>.
World-changing: Lewis-Jones says a lot of the images show first-hand how people's understanding of the world was changing. "That's what a lot of these big expeditions did -- change the way people see the world," Lewis-Jones tells CNN Travel.
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven