Philip II of Spain on His Throne

Antonio Tempesta

National Gallery of Art

The image shows five men in a room. The central figure on the left is seated in a chair, one leg crossed over the other. The seated individual has a thick beard and wears a hat, a high-collared cape, and a tunic with vertical stripes. The standing man in front of him holds a document or scroll and is dressed in similar period attire with a doublet, ruff, and short cape, carrying a sword at his side. Behind him, three other men are visible; one holds a scribe or documentation, while the other two look engaged in conversation. Their faces are detailed with period-specific hairstyles and ruffs, and they are dressed in high-collared cloaks and hose. The man closest to the viewer on the right holds a hat and a walking cane. The scene takes place in a room with draped curtains and a window letting in light, adding depth to the monochrome image.