A Third-Rate Entering Port Mahon<br><p>A third-rate, two-decker, 74-gun warship is shown flying the red ensign and private pennant on the left of the picture, in the entrance to Port Mahon harbour. A ship of this size could have been used for lying in line of battle, as an independent cruiser or the flagship of a small squadron. This one is in fact hove-to and making little way, to drop a boat which is conveying two naval officers to the quayside on the right. The boat, also flying the red ensign, has a smartly uniformed crew which suggests it is taking the captain ashore. Other ships lie behind off the harbour entrance. In the foreground is a variety of small craft including a rowing boat on the left, with a man holding a net spread over the water. In the central foreground a felucca, a type of narrow, swift, lateen-rigged sailing vessel used in the Mediterranean, moves towards a small landing stage. The buildings of the port are visible on the right and the 18th-century lazaretto or hospital to the left. The artist has incorporated detailed elements of everyday life, such as washing hanging on a line, a woman carrying a basket on her head, a man with his fishing rod and inhabitants wearing their traditional dress. This is an unusual, large composition by an artist more widely known for small-scale paintings in the Dutch manner and stylistically it hovers between the 18th and 19th centuries. 
</p><p>Powell came from Chichester and spent some time at sea. This is not one of his exhibited works and was probably therefore a commission, perhaps for the captain of the unidentified vessel shown. It is signed and dated 'C M Powell 1820' in the bottom right-hand corner.<br></p>
A third-rate entering Port Mahon
<bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21463336" class="extiw" title="d:Q21463336"><span title="British marine painter">Charles Martin Powell</span></a>
</bdi>
1820<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1820-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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