Portrait of a Gentleman

Joseph Wright

National Gallery of Art

The painting depicts a man shown from the knees up, standing with his arms crossed over his chest and his head turned to the right. He has light skin, ruddy cheeks with a brown mole, a long nose, and small red lips in a neutral expression. His gray hair is styled into curls above his ears that peek out from under a black hat. His clothing is rich in detail, consisting of a dark blue-and-red coat with gold embroidery and gold buttons, and an off-white scarf or cravat wrapped around his neck. His right hand wears a black glove and holds a cane, as well as the other glove. The background features large, moss-covered rock formations, with a few green vines trailing across them. The pale-yellow sky behind it is filled with clouds, with some hints of blue at the top.