The Amsterdam artist Reinier Zeeman (today generally known as Reinier Nooms, called Zeeman) produced a large number of etchings. He published sets of etchings, such as, in 1650: 'Receuil de plusiers Navires et Païsages faits aprais le naturel par R. Zeeman', and in 1652: 'Quelque navieres desseigner & graver par Remij Zeeman'. He made numerous views of Paris which suggests that he visited the city.

This drawing was previously thought to be by the English marine artist Nicholas Pocock, to whom it once belonged, but it is actually a drawing by Zeeman for one of his sets of etchings. There are a large number of his works in the Museum's collection, including paintings, drawings and etchings.