A woman reclines in a woodland setting, her pale satin dress spreading in shimmering folds across the forest floor. Her gaze turns to the left, away from the viewer, with a composed and thoughtful expression. She holds an open book in her left hand, her fingers gently marking the page, while her right arm rests on a stack of closed books to her side.

The light falls softly across her face and upper body, illuminating the delicate textures of her dress and the pearls at her wrist. Around her, roses bloom among the foliage, their petals scattered at her feet and woven into the greenery behind her. The background is dense with dark trees and leaves, painted in deep greens and browns, creating a contrast with the luminous pinks and creams of her gown.

The brushwork in the dress captures the play of light on silk, with smooth, flowing strokes that suggest both volume and softness. Details such as the lace at her sleeves, the ribbon at her neck, and the careful rendering of the books' spines show the artist's attention to refinement and luxury. The composition places the figure diagonally across the canvas, her form dominating the foreground while the forest recedes into shadow.

Sunlight highlights the folds of her dress and the tops of her hands, while her shoes remain in shadow beneath the fabric. The background trees are painted with loose, textured brushstrokes, giving a hazy effect to the upper left and top edges. François Boucher painted this portrait of Madame de Pompadour in 1758.