The image is a portrait of a man with his upper body, positioned seated with his head resting on his right hand, supported by a stack of books or a similar object. The man has high cheekbones, a broad forehead, well-defined eyebrows, wavy hair combed back, and is dressed in 18th-century attire of a jacket, waistcoat, and cravat. There are no visible pieces of jewelry or objects being actively held. The background is a plain, lightly tinted surface with a dark oval framing the man's portrait.