A ship’s portrait of the ‘William Fisher’ shown in broadside view under sail. She was built in Liverpool in 1844 and is shown sailing off the coast. Several sailing ships can be seen at anchor on the far left and a paddle steamer with billowing smoke is shown steaming ahead of her.

The ‘William Fisher’ has a distinct masthead of a full size male figure, probably William Fisher, pointing the way forward. Liverpool was her home port and she sailed to Montreal, Bahia and Rotterdam. In 1846 when Prince Albert visited Liverpool Docks, the ‘William Fisher’, was described by the Times as a’ large merchant vessel’ with a crew of 250 sailors. She was selected to be the first merchant ship to enter the dock in his presence.

The painting is signed and dated, ‘J Heard 1855’.