Previously titled 'Harbour Scene, France', this painting appears to be one of four showing fishing boats airing their sails at or off the Quai des Dames, the north side of the inner harbour at La Rochelle, off which lay what used to be the fish market building (today La Coursive, the city cultural centre). BHC1852 is the closest parallel, but this shows the buildings of the quay at a greater distance and boats further out into the harbour. It is a bold contrast of colour, light and shade, heat and stillness, with skilful rendering of the glassy water and reflections between the hulls. The quay behind faces south and the boats in shadow in the foreground may be in the shade cast by the city wall and Tour Saint-Nicolas, the large fortified tour on the south side of the harbour entrance. See also BHC1393 and BHC1408.