The marine draughtsmen Robert and John Cleveley were the twin sons of John Cleveley, known for his paintings of ships being launched, usually at Deptford. Robert, whose drawing style is similar to that of Dominic Serres, was closely associated with the Royal Navy, and in his will describes himself as purser of HMS 'Sussex'. It is therefore likely that he would have visited the Mediterranean. The island of Stromboli, an important landmark off the coast of Sicily, was also drawn by Serres and used as a plate in the 'Liber Nauticus'. The drawing is signed with Cleveley's initials and dated 1785.