A scene with the East Indiaman ‘York’ in the centre with several other vessels. The low coastline in the distance may possibly represent Madras with the buildings of Fort St George on the extreme right. The ‘York’ was launched in 1773 and made five voyages for the East India Company between 1773 and 1787, including visits to Madras in July 1780 and July 1783.

Thomas Luny was born in Cornwall in 1759 and studied marine painting under Francis Holman. Luny sometimes worked Thomas Merle, a frame maker at 36 Leadenhall Street, near East India House, who appears to have been an outlet for many of Luny's ship portraits of East Indiamen and similar compositions. The East India Company proved to be a valuable source of patronage for Luny, who was commissioned to produce many painting for its officers and even invited onto Company ships for special occasions and voyages.