Three-quarter-life-size head-and-torso bronze bust of Dr Basil Greenhill, facing forward, hands folded in front, wearing a roll-necked fisherman's sweater and glasses.

It is signed 'McLean 1983' in front and sits on a square, flat stone base which it turn sits in a wooden base with an inscribed brass plaque: ' Dr Basil Greenhill CB., CMG., FSA., FR Hist S., Director of the National Maritime Museum, 1967 - 83. / Bust by Cathryn McLean. Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1983'.

It was commissioned by the NMM Trustees to mark the sitter's retirement as third Director of the Museum. His tenure was characterized by dynamic change and advance after a period of post-war difficulty and some stagnation. After Callender, the Museum's founding Director, he was undoubtedly the most significant of the 20th century, above all in establishing it as acknowledged world-leader in its field. He continued to be a very notable figure in a number of related areas after his official retirement, when he was made CB in addition to the CMG earlier awarded for his diplomatic service.

The sculptor of this bust was known to him as a young Canadian [TBC] raised and educated in Massachusetts. She also studied in London, including at the RA Schools in the late 1970s, and had twice exhibited at the RA summer exhibition.

It is a fair likeness and perhaps most notable for showing the sitter as he wished himself to be perceived rather than as he was, at least by his immediate Museum colleagues and staff. For though the representation is benign, his directorial style was that of formidable autocrat.