In the centre of this oil painting the French cutter La Paix, on a port tack, is about to enter a harbour. The lower luff of her square mainsail is hoisted nearly to its gaff, at the end of which the French flag flies. Several figures can be seen on the deck. A small boat, already tied to the stern of La Paix, is lowering her small square sail, while her crew steady the boat with their oars. Various other French sailing vessels can be seen in the background.

This painting is attributed to Dominic M. Serres, the Younger, as his father Dominic Serres died on 3rd November 1793. Although the inscripted date 1797 is indistinct, the painting was done after February 1794 when the French flag (on La Paix's gaff) was first ordered to be used. In 1797, La Paix was described as a despatch boat, but later that year may have been taken out of service.