This interesting collection of ship portraits was painted by W. F. Mitchell for Admiral Swinton Holland R.N. and has remained in the family ever since.

Those ships which can be positively identified have been named by means of the manuscript list pasted onto the reverse of the larger of the two frames. This list, presumably in Admiral Holland's own hand, give brief details of all the ships in which he served during his long career in the Royal Navy. Additionally, Admiral Holland served first as a Sub-Lieutenant (1865) and then as a Commander aboard the Victoria and Albert II from 1881-84. Appointed A.D.C. to Queen Victoria in 1895, he was promoted Commodore and made Naval Officer-in-Charge at Hong Kong in July 1896. His final appointment was as the Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard, from September 1899.