As a result the search was widened, to reveal a handful of unsigned American ship paintings readily identifiable as being painted by the same unknown Liverpool artist. Such was the position back in 1992, For want of a better working hypothesis, Isaac Heard was then the chief suspect. Further typical examples slowly accumulated, the breakthrough being the chance discovery in 1997 of a painting of the American ship 'Ne Plus Ultra'. Absolutely true to the unknown artist's style, this one was fully inscribed with all the relevant particulars, and clearly signed 'Francis Hustwick, Liverpool'.