Francis Bacon

William Marshall

National Gallery of Art

The image is an engraving showing a seated man depicted from the waist up. He is positioned at an angle, with his body turned slightly towards a writing desk where he is holding a quill pen poised above a large piece of paper inscribed with text. His facial features show a solemn expression with a neatly trimmed mustache and a pointed beard. He is wearing a tall, flat-topped hat adorned with a band and an elaborate ruff around his neck, and his hair is curly and extends to his shoulders. His clothing is richly decorated, with a patterned, fur-lined cloak draped around his shoulders and a starry motif on the sleeves of his tunic. A medallion hangs from his neck. The background reveals a curtain on the left and a shelf on the right holding several books. There is a coat of arms mounted on the wall next to the shelf. The engraving features an ornate cartouche above the man with Latin text, and another block of text occupies the space below the figure.