The grand review of the fleet by Queen Victoria at Spithead on 11 August 1853 was intended to demonstrate the application of steam to naval warfare. Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Princess Albert and Alfred arrived down the Solent on board the royal yacht 'Victoria and Albert' whose paddle box can be seen on the extreme left of the watercolour. They first went on board the 'Duke of Wellington', 1st rate, 131 guns, flagship of the Channel Fleet, which flies the royal standard, and is left of centre. Afterwards a mock engagement and chase was staged. The 'Illustrated London News' referred to the event as a 'national show' and devoted a supplement to it with illustration by John Wilson Carmichael.

Knell was the most accomplished of a family of marine painters. He exhibited in London between 1825 and 1866 and painted in both oil and watercolour.