A portrait of a British frigate shown port broadside-on, with the figurehead of a woman clearly visible. The frigate is flying both the white ensign and the flag of an admiral of the white. A number of sailors on board are shown attending to the main sail.

Such ship’s portraits were often commissioned by commanding officers to commemorate their time serving on a ship. It would therefore be entirely appropriate and carry some status to commission Dominic Serres, the most important marine painter of his day to produce a portrait of a command.