In 1883 the Fine Art Society, London, commissioned Wyllie to paint two pictures of the British Bombardment of Alexandria, which had taken place on 11 July 1882. Wyllie went to Alexandria in order to make studies, of which this is one. Mrs Wyllie later wrote in 'We Were One' (1935):

'He was away for six weeks, and brought back some very fine studies, from which he painted a six-foot canvas of the bombardment, and a second picture, with the title "Well done 'Condor'", which passed into the hands of the Beauchamp Seymour family.’

Lord Charles Beresford's courage and initiative commanding HMS 'Condor' brought him to prominence and provided the title for the picture, which is now in the NMM's collection (BHC0643). Both commissioned pictures were exhibited later in 1883 at the Fine Art Society.

M.A. Wyllie, ‘We Were One’ (London: Bell & Son Ltd., 1935)