The subject of this portrait was a very important man in the political affairs of his time. His clothes indicate wealth, but in a discreet way. His cap of black velvet has touches of gold thread and pearls. The man wears a gold chain, and his white collar is decorated with delicate lace. We see determination in his serious expression, but his pale and lined face suggests fatigue. The portrait is fairly small, which suggests that it was not commissioned to be hung in a salon where guests would be received, but rather in a private room.
