A depiction by a Maltese artist of the Mediterranean fleet at Malta. It shows the flagship, the white-painted 'Alexandra' flying the St George's flag at the main, a white ensign at the stern and a Union jack on the end of her bowsprit. She has the battleship 'Dreadnought' under her bow and the 'Colossus' on her left.

The Commander-in-Chief at the time was HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the fifth son of Queen Victoria. In this image of a Mediterranean port, the ships are arranged horizontally along the picture. Valletta is shown in the background and several small craft in the foreground convey people around the harbour. The two boats on the left are Maltese dghaisas, the one on the right a naval ship's launch.

Gianni was a Maltese artist working in the second half of the 19th century, and the Duke of Edinburgh's steward bought this painting from him. He executed many similar commissions for British naval officers.