Peter Monamy was one of the first English artists to continue the tradition of Willem van de Velde the Younger’s marine painting into the 18th century and his work is representative of the early British school of maritime art, which still shows the overwhelming influence of the Dutch style. Monamy was self-taught, but may have worked in van de Velde’s studio in Greenwich.

This small coastal scene shows the artist’s use of simple composition as well as colouring to create a serene and poetic mood. From a low eye-level just above the calm water the spectator beholds a yacht just off stern. The strong draw of perspective towards the horizon on the left is created by the coastline’s flattened diagonal, and by the spatial recession of sailing ships into the misty background in line with the yacht.