The importance and influence of portraiture in the development of historical marine painting has always been considered substantial. Renderings of ship captains and owners with their vessels portrayed in the background have been a popular artform since the early Seventeenth Century.

This portrait is signed H. Collins, who is listed as an English painter from Islington. Captain Black, possibly a Liverpool ship master, dressed in a formal suit with his gold watch and chain prominently displayed, holds his long glass cradled in his left arm as if he has just been viewing the full rigged ship shown under sail beneath his elbow.

A fine example of nineteenth century portraiture, this image captures the strong character forged by years at sea etched into the captain's face. The hands, one of the most difficult aspects of anatomy to accurately portray, are also well drawn with strength and realism.