James Ley, First Earl of Marlborough

John Payne and Willem de Passe

National Gallery of Art

The image features a portrait of a man from the shoulders up in a rectangular frame. The man faces slightly to his right with deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and a trimmed beard. He wears a fabric cap and an elaborate lace ruff collar. Surrounding him are smaller figures of ornately dressed men with large feathered hats, some on horseback engaging in activities like hunting or jousting. The background includes images of horses, dogs, and action scenes. Inscriptions with titles and names are present at the bottom of the image.