A watercolour view of fishing boats in the Venetian lagoon, with seagulls in the foreground. Signed and dated bottom right: Clara Montalba / 87.

Montalba was a highly-respected marine painter who was elected an associate of the Society of Watercolour Painters in 1874 . She and her three sisters, who were also all artists, were friends with Princess Louise. The Montalba sisters spent a great deal of time in Venice and had studios in their home on the Zattere.