A full-length portrait, slightly to the left, showing Fortescue in his lieutenentant's undress coat and blue trousers. He holds a telescope in his right hand; in his gloved left hand rests on the fluke of an anchor and in it he holds the other glove. His top hat lies at his feet; he stands on a beach with a small schooner in the left background. Henry Forstescue entered the Navy in 1811. He was in the 'Minden', 74 guns, at the bombardment of Algiers in 1816. Although promoted lieutenant in 1823, it was in affect a retirement promotion since he was never thereafter actively employed in that rank at sea.
The painting is signed 'J.Ferneley, Melton Mowbray, 1824' in the lower right in black. The artist, John E. Ferneley, was principally a sporting painter, specializing in hunting scenes.