In 1887 Brangwyn disembarked at Falmouth's famous deep-water harbour having travelled there fittingly onboard a packet ship, the Waterford Packet. The artist was instantly taken by Cornish waterfront life, writing: "The whole harbour was filled with boats ... it was a sight that knocked me silly". 'A Barque Outward Bound' is a vibrant and lively example of Brangwyn's en plein-air and square-brush response to this rich maritime imagery.

In Cornwall, Brangwyn's palette was initially muted, at times monotone but grew brighter and the artist more colourist in approach as he was exposed to the region's famous light and primary colours. Frank Brangwyn painted 'A Barque Outward Bound' around the time of his first one-man show in London, in 1891. The composition presents the 3-masted barque with its fore and mainmasts rigged square and an aft mizzen mast. The sea is quite heavy and we have a further clue to the windy conditions from the uppermost sails, royals and topgallants, and aft mizzen which are reefed; and the glimpse of another tall ship, just apparent above the approaching swell. 

A bright atmospheric work with bold brushwork particularly apparent in the clouds and Prussian blue waves.