Although Swaine painted a few naval actions, his preference was for general shipping subjects, usually on a small scale. Between 1761 and 1783 he exhibited a large number of pictures, including some drawings, at the Free Society and the Society of Artists. These included a large number of 'calms', 'gales' and 'moonlights'. This 'calm' includes some activity in the foreground, involving a teapot being thrown into the air, but the meaning of this is not clear. The drawing is signed.