The image shows a woman from the knees up, standing with her head turned slightly to her left. Her facial features include a high forehead, arched eyebrows, a straight nose, and a neutral expression. Her hair is pulled back into a bun with a headpiece. She wears a formal dress with a high ruff collar, long sleeves with ruffled cuffs, a fitted bodice with buttons and patterned fabric, and slightly puffed sleeves. She rests her right hand on a skull on a table with a book. The background depicts a landscape with figures engaged in various activities near buildings and hills under a cloudy sky. The central image is surrounded by an ornate border with decorative elements and illustrations of music and scholarly themes.