Captain Peter Coffin, a descendant of the original Nantucket settler, Tristram Coffin (1609-1681), was master of several whaling vessels over the course of his career. From 1826-1831, he was the captain of the Statina and the Columbia. The logs of both ships are now preserved at the Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts. The ship in the background of this painting is the "Columbus" of Nantucket.

Isaac Sheffield was a portrait and miniature painter who worked in oil on canvas, and oil on wood. He settled in New London, Connecticut about 1832 and was active in that area from 1833 to 1840. He is best known for his portraits of whaling families and sea captains.