Pen and ink wash dockyard profile drawing on paper of the exploration ship 'Discovery', as commissioned for George Vancouver's voyage to the North Pacific.

The sketch by an unknown but possibly professional artist shows 'Discovery' in the process of being fitted out for George Vancouver’s voyage to the north-west coast of America, 1791-95. The voyage attracted considerable attention, with many wealthy and well-connected backers, and the sketch may have been a preliminary study for a painting that was never commissioned. On the back of the drawing is written in two different hands: ‘Mr G Williams Estate Office’ and ‘Mr W J Symonds Yard Office’ and a label stuck to the backboard says, ‘Edwd Orme PRINTSELLER to the KING’.

Edward Orme (1775-1848) was a London-based artist and engraver, the dates suggesting that the label was later than 1789 and probably early 19th century. The ship had been built as a merchantman by the Rotherhithe firm of Randall and Brent, from whom it was bought ‘on the stocks’ and adapted for exploration. Discovery' became a convict hulk in 1808 and was finally broken up in 1834.