A portrait on broadside view of the vessel, ‘William McGilvery’ in 1877. In the painting her name is clearly visible on the starboard side, and she is shown with other shipping in the distance. She is one of 60 such ships that were built at Maine where shipbuilders became known for their three-masted square-rigged vessels. They required fewer crew members than the clippers, and yet carried more cargo and came to be known as Down Easters. The ‘William McGilvery’ is show flying the American flag.

The painting is signed ‘J Witham 1877’.