Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex

Willem de Passe and Magdalena de Passe

National Gallery of Art

The image is an engraved portrait showing the upper half of a man's body. He is seated in a three-quarter position, facing to the right side of the image. His facial features are finely detailed, with distinct eyes and a lightly pursed mouth. His hair is straight and appears to be shoulder-length, though it is mostly covered by a soft, rounded hat. He is wearing a heavy, fur-lined coat with elaborately layered clothing underneath. His arms are crossed in front of him on a table, where several folded documents and a small object are visible. The backdrop is a plain, vertically striped wall. Lettering under the engraved image describes the subject as "THOMAS CROMWELIVS" among other Latin text. The portrait is printed on an aged piece of paper, with some visible wear around the edges.