A man in elaborate armor sits astride a white horse, holding a baton upright in his right hand and gazing directly out of the painting. His ruff collar, ornate breastplate, and richly patterned red breeches mark him as a figure of high status and command. The horse rears slightly, its mane flowing in loose curls, and its head turned to the left, emphasizing its power and energy.

Gold embellishments decorate the horse’s harness and the man’s armor, catching the light and adding a sense of luxury. Behind the rider, a dense tree with twisting branches and clusters of leaves frames the upper left of the scene, its foliage blown by the wind. To the right, a dramatic sky opens up with swirling clouds, painted in sweeping strokes of blue, white, and gray, suggesting a charged atmosphere.

The man’s face is calm and composed, with a neatly trimmed beard and closely cropped hair, his expression one of self-assurance and authority. Light falls from the left, illuminating the man’s face, the horse’s head, and the gold details, while casting deeper shadows under the horse and in the foliage, creating a vivid contrast. The composition centers the rider and horse, making them dominate the canvas, while the diagonals of the baton, the horse’s legs, and the tree branches add movement and energy.

The brushwork is varied: broad, energetic strokes shape the clouds and mane, while fine, precise lines pick out the details of armor, embroidery, and harness. Small touches, such as the delicate highlights on the horse’s bridle and the intricate patterns on the man’s costume, reveal the artist’s attention to detail. Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma is painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1603. The subject is Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma, shown as a commanding figure of equestrianism and power.

The painting is now in Madrid, as noted by the Museo del Prado.