The entrance to a fortified harbour with men-o'-war at anchor, figures on a quay in the foreground

A sculptor, painter, draughtsman and architect, Puget was one of the outstanding artists of his century. As an artist, he is primarily known as a history painter, particularly of altarpieces. However, over a hundred drawings are known by him of maritime views, harbours and dockyards. This interest was presumably fuelled by his years from 1643 practising sculpture and painting at the Toulon Arsenal, France's largest naval shipyard. The present picture is one of a number of works attributed to Puget on the basis of comparison with his known drawings.