An early conversation piece by Hogarth showing the family of Woodes Rogers, a famous Bristol seaman and Governor of the Bahamas. Rogers is wearing a jacket, breeches, a cloak draped over his right knee, a full wig, buckled shoes and holds a pair of dividers in his right hand to signify his maritime associations. On his right stands a young man, probably his son William, who holds a map of (New) Providence Island, in the Bahamas (the site of Nassau, the capital). On the left a girl thought to be Rogers' daughter, Sarah, holds a book on her knee. The cartouche on the wall is inscribed 'Dum Spiro, Spero, 1729' ('While I live, I hope'). In the background is a ship being saluted as it enters harbour and it is possible that this portrait was produced to celebrate Rogers's return to Nassau in 1729. A globe stands in the right foreground, which completes the emblematic inclusion of ship, globe, dividers and map celebrating Rogers' achievements. A maidservant holding a plate of tropical fruit stands behind the silk-clad Sarah, dressed in imitation of her mistress by wearing a string of pearls and a bow in her cap. Hogarth as satirist hovers over the composition since the servant potentially subverts the formality of the grouping by introducing a spark of wit. The dog at Sarah's feet, also wearing a bow, supports this interpretation.