The view is of a clipper on port-bow view under slighty reduced sail in a lively blue sea, in fair weather. A wave has broken against the starboard bow, hence the artist inscription on the back top right, (where he has also signed it above the address '6 Finchley Place', as well as lower right on the recto): this reads 'The Lochinvar washing her face'. On the verso he has also written 'The Lochinvar' at centre and, lower right, 'There is a drawing of this ship / J. Everett', the chalk drawing being PAH6787. The ship was built by Stevens of Dundee in 1878.

On the PCF/BBC 'Your Paintings' website tied to this item is erroneously that of an oil of an 18th-century naval brigantine by John Cleveley the elder (BHC1043). [PvdM 5/15]