A dramatic painting showing a frigate off a rocky coast, in the act of ‘clawing’. This occurred when a sailing ship tried to avoid being driven on to a ‘lee’ shore in rough seas because of a combination of a rough sea and a strong onshore wind.

The Scandinavian vessel is shown struggling perilously close to a rocky shore, probably off the coast of Norway. She is being watched by a small fishing vessel on the left of the picture. A lighthouse is visible on the headland with mountains rising up beyond.

This Danish artist exhibited marine paintings at the Royal Academy between 1853 and 1867. The painting is signed ‘W Melby 1858’.