Robert Cleveley (1747–1809)

Watercolour over pen and ink, 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 in (8.5 x 13.5 cm), Signed with initials and dated 1784.

The vessel in the centre is making its way shoreward, down wind, with its top sail engaged. In this view we are looking westwards with the sun, low on the horizon, keeping the sea in shadow, whilst illuminating the chalk headlands on the Isle of Wight. Although the sea is running, close into shore, this is a calmer view than the preceding example, and the contrasts come from the juxtaposition of lighter and darker areas, with the figures judiciously placed within the separate tonal bands.