John Williams, D.D., Archbishop of York and Lord Keeper

Francis Delaram

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a man portrayed in a portrait from the waist up, positioned centrally in an oval frame. He is turned slightly to his left and has facial features including a short-trimmed beard and moustache. He wears a scholarly expression, a flat hat typical of the Renaissance, and a formal garment with a thick ruff around the neck and voluminous sleeves. He is holding a book in his right hand. Flanking him are two full-body statues of men in elaborate period attire with ruffs, doublets, and knee-length pants, each standing on ornate plinths. Above, five cherubic figures hold various items such as a book, a trumpet, a laurel wreath, and a lute against a backdrop of draped fabric and columns. The scene is rich in detail with decorative elements and inscriptions surrounding the figures in the intricate engraving.