David Cox the elder

Like many of his contemporaries, David Cox crossed the English
Channel and painted coastal landscapes along both its northern and
southern shores. This small study of a group of ships likely dates
from Cox’s third and final visit to the continent, during which he
executed numerous pictures of the principal pier of Calais and the
tall sailing vessels passing through the busy French port. For these
marine subjects, he used soft layers of pale wash to portray the calm
waters and foggy atmosphere of the harbor.