This is a ship portrait viewed from before the port beam. The ship is flying a Union flag at a staff on her forecastle as at a launching. Her mainmast, however, to the height of the fourth woulding, has been drawn in. The ‘Swiftsure’ was launched at Harwich on 8 April 1673.

This is a faint offset based on an accurate original worked up with a little pencil on the figurehead and a crude wash along the side. It has also been strengthened in some places by pen-work.