George Wither, Poet

John Payne

National Gallery of Art

This image depicts a man from the waist up, facing the viewer and slightly angled to his right. He wears a broad-brimmed hat, a dark garment with a large lace collar that flows over his shoulders. The intricate collar contrasts with the darker fabric underneath. The man has a mustache, a small goatee, and curly hair visible under his hat. To the left of his shoulder, there is a shield-like emblem with a coat of arms. The background is a textured gray surface inside an oval border with inscriptions. Below the portrait, an engraved inscription contains contemplative poetry.