This painting shows a yacht of the later Stuart period and typical of those popularised by and during the reign of Charles 11. Given the presence of the small dutch yacht in the foreground and therefore the possibility that the view is off the Dutch coast, the scene depicted may be an event in the life of Princess Mary, the niece of Charles 11. Mary, the daughter of Charles's brother James, married Prince William of Orange in 1677 and they assumed the English throne as joint monarchs following the abdication of James 11 in 1689. Whatever the event however, it must pre-date 1707 since that year saw the distinctive red ensign on the yacht replaced by the more familiar type.