This painting by an unknown artist is based on a print of the HMS Lady Nelson: `View of the Lady Nelson in the Thames ...’ reproduced in The Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery, performed in His Majesty's Vessel the Lady Nelson … to New South Wales by James Grant, published in London in 1803.

The Lady Nelson reached Sydney in 1800. The ship was specially built to an innovative design by Royal Navy captain, John Schanck. Three sliding keels reduced the draught of the ship when raised out of the water and allowed the Lady Nelson to carry out survey work close to the coastline in shallow water.