18th century warship, historical artwork. Multiple cannons (on left of ship) are a typical feature of ship-of-the-line warships. These ships were constructed from the 17th century until the mid-19th century for use in naval tactics needing the heaviest ships to stably carry the most powerful guns. These vessels were the ancestors of the modern battleship. Image taken from Bibliotheque des artes decoratifs (library of decorative arts), Paris, mid-19th century.