He wears ermine-lined robes over a dark blue garment, with a broad white lace collar and gold chains across his chest. Behind him, a heavy red and gold curtain hangs to the left, adding to the sense of grandeur and framing the figure against a column and a sky filled with clouds. The artist chooses a low vantage point, looking upwards at the king to increase the illusion of height and presence. His expression is calm, with a slight turn of the head and a steady gaze that meets the viewer directly.

The paint is applied smoothly, with subtle transitions in the modelling of the face and hands, and more visible brushwork in the highlights of the drapery and the shimmer of gold details. The composition is carefully balanced, with the vertical column and the horizontal ledge anchoring the king at the centre, while the sweeping curtain and the open sky create a sense of depth. Small details, such as the gold decoration on the shoes and the lace at the cuffs, are rendered with precision, emphasizing luxury and status. Anthony van Dyck painted this portrait in 1636, during the reign of Charles I.

The museum notes that this image may have been conceived as an official state portrait, and that it was much copied and sometimes paired with a portrait of the Queen. All the elements of a state portrait are present: a grand architectural setting, regalia, and a formal pose designed to convey power. The Royal Collection also notes a pentimento at the base of the column, suggesting that the artist altered the composition during the painting process.