A closely observed portrait of the 'St Andrew', 96 guns. She was built at Woolwich Dockyard by Christopher Pett in 1670 and was later renamed the 'Royal Anne' after rebuilding as a 100-gun ship in 1704. She flew Sir John Kempthorne's blue flag at the fore, as vice-admiral, at the Battle of the Texel in 1673 and since she flies a blue flag at the fore here it is likely that he commissioned the painting. Van de Velde also made several detailed drawings of the ship in preparation for it. She is here shown prominently positioned in the centre of the picture and is viewed from the port broadside, abaft the beam, with the stern visible. On a long line astern she is towing a boat with several men in it. Ahead of the 'St Andrew', nearly in stern view, is a ship of the red squadron, bearing a large royal arms on the stern. Another ship is visible beyond in port-broadside view, running across her bow and there is another ship before the wind in the right background.

The artist was younger son of Willem van de Velde the Elder. Born in Leiden, he studied under Simon de Vlieger in Weesp and in 1652 moved back to Amsterdam. He worked in his father's studio and developed the skill of carefully drawing ships in tranquil settings. He changed his subject matter, however, when he came with his father to England in 1672-73, by a greater concentration on royal yachts, men-of-war and storm scenes. From this time painting sea battles for Charles II and his brother (and Lord High Admiral) James, Duke of York, and other patrons, became a priority. Unlike his father's works, however, they were not usually eyewitness accounts. After his father's death in 1693 his continuing role as an official marine painter obliged him to be more frequently present at significant maritime events. The painting was probably made the year after the artist came to England and he also did several other versions of it.