The painting is a portrait of the ship, 'Britannia', 120 guns, showing her stern and her name emblazoned on it. She is flying the white ensign, the pre-1850 tricolour or common pennant, and her anchor is raised. Figures can be seen on the deck and in the rigging. The Mediterranean coastline is shown as a rocky outcrop on the left in the foreground, and on the right consisting of cliffs and grassy headland. A ruined tower is on the right with a fort and church on the cliff, and the coast continues round to the distance. Another warship is anchored in port-broadside view in the harbour in the distance, together with other shipping, and a lateen rigged vessel is also shown in the middle distance to the right.

'Britannia', built in 1820, was in the Mediterranean between 1830-32 and again in 1835. It is possible that this is the coastline of Malta. The artist learned to paint while he was serving in the Royal Navy. He later took up painting as a profession to augment his half pay and concentrated on Royal Naval subjects.