A young woman sits upright in a voluminous black dress, her left hand resting on a red-cushioned chair and her right hand holding a white cloth that cascades over her skirt. Her pale face, framed by an elaborate hairstyle adorned with red flowers and a large, fan-shaped headdress, looks directly outward with a composed and distant expression. The bodice and sleeves of her gown are richly decorated with gold embroidery and braid, and a heavy gold chain crosses her chest, fastened with a large medallion at the center.

A vivid red curtain hangs behind her left shoulder, its folds painted with loose, fluid brushstrokes that contrast with the crisp, almost sculptural rendering of her dress. Light falls from the left, illuminating her face, the white lace of her collar, and the shimmering details of her gown, while deep shadows gather beneath her skirt and behind her figure. The composition is carefully balanced, with the sitter's wide skirt anchoring the lower half of the canvas and her upright pose echoed by the vertical lines of the chair and the object on the table.

Delicate highlights on her jewelry, the rings on her fingers, and the gold threads of her dress catch the light, drawing attention to her status and wealth. The surface of the painting reveals both smooth, blended passages in the flesh and crisp, textured strokes in the costume and background fabrics. The work dates from between circa 1652 and circa 1653. The Kunsthistorisches Museum attributes the painting to Velázquez and identifies the sitter as Maria Anna, Queen of Spain.