Charles Brooking was one of the leading maritime painters of early 18th century England, and was highly influential for this genre on the island. Brooking grew up with marine painting - his father of the same name worked in this genre at Greenwich Hospital in London.

Brooking himself learned ship painting in his hometown of Deptford, although he also taught himself independently by studying the works of the Old Masters. He was especially influenced by Dutch maritime painting, exemplified by the works of the court painter Willem van de Velde the Younger.

Typical pieces of Charles Brooking's marine works are characterized by an open, horizontal composition with gently swaying ships. The horizons are low s...