Stylistically 'pure' Miles, this charming painting is a classic example of naive art, witness the disproportionate figures in the pilot sloop on the right. With every stitch of canvas spread, including diminutive skysails and weather stu'n'sails, the crew will shortly be very busy reducing sail as Talisman turns into the wind to drop anchor. By brailing up the weather clew of the mainsail, the artist reveals the distant Perch Rock Fort and Lighthouse just forward of the main mast. Another interesting feature is the national emblem at the mainmast. An eagle surmounted by 23 stars, this dates, as is often the case with flags in ship portraits, from the slightly earlier period of 1820?22.

As shown in the bow detail, this is one of the very few instances where at this early date, the normal load waterline is indicated (9 for nine feet draft); the upper figures 1,2,3 measuring additional displacement. Mile Walters records a similar feature in at least one other of his ship portraits.
Oil on canvas 17" x 29" signed WALTERS 182(?8)
Private collection USA