A Seated Elderly Man Asleep

Jean-Charles Francois, after Nicholas Henry Jeaurat de Bertry

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts an elderly man from the waist up in a seated position. He is leaning forward, resting his left elbow on a surface while supporting his head with his hand. His eyes are closed, and he has a prominent beard and mustache, with thinning hair that recedes from his temples. The man is wearing a robe-like garment that covers his body, featuring a draped fabric that falls into soft folds. His other hand rests on his leg, open-palmed. The background is a plain, textured surface that gives depth to the image, with the edges of the garment and surface providing contrast against the backdrop. There are no visible objects or jewelry in the composition.