Robert Sidney, First Earl of Leicester

Simon de Passe

National Gallery of Art

This is an engraved portrait showing the upper half of a gentleman sitting in a formal posture. The man has sharp facial features, a mustache, a small pointed beard, wavy medium-length hair styled away from his face, and is wearing a richly adorned outfit with a large lace ruff around his neck and a fur-lined cape on his shoulders. He is holding a piece of parchment or paper in his right hand and wearing a medallion on a ribbon around his neck. The background has ornate swirls and heraldic elements, a coat of arms above his head, and decorative script around the portrait. The image has detailed linework and shading, creating a classic and historical ambiance.