A watercolour of an unidentified South Asian crew member, waving on the bow-spit of a ship.

In October 1875, Albert Edward, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, embarked on an extensive tour of the Indian subcontinent. The Prince visited more than 21 towns and cities before returning to England in May 1876. This watercolour was perhaps created on the voyage from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

The Prince of Wales’s tour of India was envisaged as a way of forging diplomatic links between the Indian rulers and the British Crown. Though there were controversies before the tour began about its expense and purpose, from the British perspective it was considered successful. The response on the Indian subcontinent to Albert Edward's tour, and what it symbolised in terms of imperial rule and colonial relations, was more mixed.

Sydney Prior Hall was a draughtsman and illustrator who worked for the Graphic newspaper, as well as a portrait painter. He was invited to accompany the tour of India as Special Artist. Sydney Prior Hall maintained a friendship with the prince after the tour, and Albert Edward often visited his studio in London.