A scene showing the ‘Hindustan’ in full sail off the coast of China. A Chinese craft is sailing past on the left of the painting with a figure visible in the stern managing both the sails and the tiller. The junk is covered with a small awning. Another British ship can be seen in the far distance on the left.

The painting is thought to commemorate the ‘Hindustan’s’ first voyage for the East India Company to China at the start of 1790, returning just over a year later in January 1791. Luny was commissioned to produce five paintings of the ‘Hindustan’ from this voyage. In 1795 the ‘Hindustan’ was sold to the government, to become the 4th rate ship HMS ‘Hindostan’. In October 1792 it undertook its second trip to China, escorting the 'Lion' with Lord Macartney aboard, as part of Britain’s trading embassy to the Chinese Emperor, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Altogether the ‘Hindostan’ was in service between 1789-1802 and made six major voyages during this time. After various operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean it was burnt by accident on 2 April 1804 in Rosas bay, San Sebastian.

Luny’s associated paintings of the ‘Hindustan’ in the collection are BHC3403, BHC3404, BHC3406 and BHC3407. The National Maritime Museum also has the log book of ‘Hindostan’ for the period 1795-96 and 1803, ADM/L/H/158, and naval papers related to the salvage of the wreck, MSS/81/108