Emanating from ship on the right, smoke or steam moves across the centre of the scene. A torpedo boat in the left of the image is engulfed with darkly etched steam. The central and right background is punctuated with ships in bow view. A similar composition in back and grey wash (PAD9896) shows a first-class torpedo boat making passage escorting a battleship. Wyllie produced a number of drawings, paintings, and prints throughout the 1890s and early 20th century which took the torpedo boat as their subject. Signed by artist.

W. L. Wyllie (1851-1931) was a British Marine artist. Born in London, Wyllie painted, drew, and etched Thames scenes throughout his life. He moved to Portsmouth in 1907, where he continued working, supported the restoration of the Victory and painted the Trafalgar Panorama. Early in his career Wyllie was an illustrator for The Graphic, and he became a member of the Royal Academy in 1907.