At the beginning of his career Aivasovski met the English painter William Turner (1775–1851), and the influence of the famous English romantic is evident. Both artists shared a passion for adding a diffuse sunlight in the centre of the motif; this is also the case for the present composition. The painting is from a series of which all works are connected with the tempest theme and is painted in Odessa where the artist lived. Aivasovski is recognized for his skilled technique which especially finds expression in his persuasive pictures of the sea and the motions of the water. Provenance: The brother of the present owner's grandfather was around 1915 stationed in Russia for The Nordic Cable Company, NKT. Later he moved to Riga to start his own business; however, he did not get permission to realize his plans, because he had been to Russia. Consequently, he asked his brother, Ingemann Munksgaard, to move to Latvia in order to establish the company in his name. The stay lasted from 1920 to 1936 and during this period Munksgaard acquired several paintings and works of art. In 1936, the Russians invaded Latvia and threw out all foreigners. Munksgaard arranged that the collected items were shipped to to Denmark on board one of his brother's ships. Since then the painting has been in the family's possession.