A ship’s portrait of the barquentine 'Ocean Swell' under full sail in port-broadside view. The ship's name is on the pennant at the mainmast head. There is a Union Jack with a white border at the head of the fore-upper-topgallant, which from 1823 was used as a signal for requesting a pilot. The blue and white triangular pennant at the mizzen is the '2nd' pennant in the Marryat code. Three figures are visible on the deck and the schooner is shown with other shipping in the distance, including a steam ship on the right, the smoke from which trails over the right of the image. A barque, lugger and brigantine can be seen to the left in the distance.the right, the smoke from which trails over the right of the image.

It is inscribed ‘Ocean Swell, Fowey’ centre bottom, and signed and dated, ‘W. Pearn 1878’.