In early Greek cosmology, Oceanus was the name given to the river supposed to encircle the earth, parent of the rivers of the world and of the ocean nymphs, known as the Oceanides.

Lambert's great friend, the architect, Grey Wornum, saw this piece in the artist's studio and persuaded the directors of Cunard to use the bronze as the central piece of the main hall on the 'S.S. Queen Elizabeth'. Subsequently Lambert was commissioned to fill two niches and a place over each door leading to the outside deck. The 'Queen Elizabeth' was completed in 1939 but was dismantled for use as a Troop ship during the Second World War