A bearded man is shown in three-quarter view, turning his head sharply to the left while his body faces forward. He wears a voluminous golden-yellow cloak that wraps around his shoulders and falls in heavy folds, painted with broad, sweeping brushstrokes that catch the light. His left hand is raised in a delicate, almost hesitant gesture, the fingers elongated and slightly bent, while his right hand firmly grasps a large wooden cross that rises diagonally through the composition.

The cross, rendered with visible wood grain and warm brown tones, dominates the right side of the canvas and serves as a powerful vertical element. A sleeve of intense blue emerges from beneath the cloak, its creased fabric painted with energetic, swirling strokes that contrast with the smoother areas of the garment. The background is a deep, shadowy black, pushing the figure forward and heightening the dramatic effect of the lighting, which falls from the upper left and illuminates the man's face, hands, and the folds of his robe.

His face is sharply modeled, with high cheekbones and a pointed beard, and his expression is solemn, his gaze directed upward and outward as if in contemplation or spiritual resolve. The play of light and shadow across his features and the drapery creates a sense of depth and movement, characteristic of El Greco's late style. The work's color scheme is dominated by the golden ochre of the cloak and the striking blue of the sleeve, set against the dark, undefined background.

The brushwork is loose and expressive, especially in the treatment of the drapery and the hair, where individual strokes remain visible and lend a sense of immediacy to the image. Apostle Saint Philip was created by El Greco between 1610 and 1614, during the final years of his career.