Ship portrait. The 'Venus' - which has the characteristics of a Thames or coastal passenger steamer and her name on the paddle-box - is shown in starboard-broadside view off low white cliffs, with a building that may be church on high ground to the right and a small port below. The location is not yet identified but likely to be in the Thames estuary, possibly Margate. If that is the case it must be a fairly early morning scene with the sun low towards the south-east. There is a Royal Naval cutter to the right and a merchant brig to the left and other crafty beyond the bow of 'Venus'. Heavy smoke rises from a fire of some sort on land to the left where houses are also visible. For details of the artist, see BHC3217.