The flagship of a Rear-Admiral of the Red, with an Admiral of the Fleet aboard, firing a salute to acknowledge the longboat approaching her starboard quarter which is probably carrying a distinguished visitor wanting to come aboard

Thomas Leemans was a maritime artist operating during the first half of the eighteenth century who was strongly influenced by the work of Peter Monamy (1681-1749). Little is known of Leemans and few works are signed but nearly all are calm scenes with a large man-o-war seen from the stern with figures in the foreground. A 'calm', as this type of scene became known, was a classic composition adopted by the Dutch maritime masters and later continued by Peter Monamy with whom it is thought Leemans worked as a studio assistant for a short period.