The Rescue depicts the packet steamer Express, built for the London and South Western railways Channel Islands service in 1847. On the 20 September 1859 the Express left St. Helier on its regular shuttle to Guernsey carrying horses for the Guernsey races the following day. She hit the rocks off La Corbiére running into St. Brelade's Bay where she rapidly began to sink. Almost all her 200 passengers and crew were saved together with the horses.

For further information on the artist see lot 166.