First Fleet artwork collection

The drawing represents the salvaging of crew and provisions from the wreck of the Sirius, the flag-ship of the First Fleet, at Norfolk Island on 19th March 1790. The ship is depicted listing to her side in the sea towards the lower left of the composition, her masts broken and surrounded by barrels and crates, with waves breaking over her. The remains of her crew are visible on the deck. The ship isseparated from calmer water and the shore on the right by a series of rocky outcrops. She is attached to the shore by two ropes, one of which is anchored by a group of sailors on the shore, and the second by another group on a rock mid-way between the shore and the ship. They are guiding a raft containing more of the crew which is suspended from the ropes. In the distance another small rowing boat can be seen pitching in the waves. It is watched by another group of figures from the shore, close to a flag-pole from which the Union Jack of Queen Anne is flying, and a cluster of buildings. The shore is backed by hills covered with pine trees. The sky occupies approximately two-thirds of the composition and is largely unpainted, with some areas of blue wash. The drawing is framed by a triple-banded border, the central band of which is coloured with a pink wash. The main part of the title, in brown ink, is contained in a separate panel below the drawing within the central band, and continuing into the outer band. Some conservation work is visible in the bottom right-hand corner.