Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos sits at an ornate gilt table, his head resting on his right hand in a pose of introspection. He gazes outward, his expression thoughtful, while his left hand loosely holds a folded document. Jovellanos is dressed in a pale grey coat and waistcoat, with white stockings and black shoes, the soft light highlighting the sheen of the fabrics and the delicate folds of his clothing.

The chair he occupies is upholstered in gold, echoing the elaborate carving and gilded details of the table beside him. Behind the table, a dark green curtain falls in heavy folds, its shadowy tones contrasting with the lighter foreground. To the right, a sculpture of a standing female figure, rendered in deep shadow, stands atop a pedestal, her presence adding a classical note to the composition.

The brushwork is fluid and confident, with visible strokes in the drapery, hair, and background lending texture and depth to the scene. The composition is carefully balanced, with Jovellanos placed slightly off-center and the objects on the table leading the eye across the canvas. Touches of gold and white punctuate the otherwise subdued palette of greens, greys, and browns, creating a harmonious yet restrained color scheme.

A large swath of golden fringe appears in the upper left corner, suggesting the edge of a canopy or curtain just out of view. The floor in the foreground is painted in soft, muted earth tones, with loose brushwork that subtly blends the shadows beneath the chair and table. Light falls most strongly on the sitter's face, left hand, and stockings, while the lower right corner and the area behind the sculpture remain in deep shadow.

Fine, linear details are visible in the carved foliage motifs on the table's edge, contrasting with broader, more fluid strokes in the background drapery. Painted in 1798, Portrait of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos is the work of Francisco Goya. The subject, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, is depicted seated, surrounded by symbols of intellectual and official life such as documents, a pen, and a table. A sculpture is included in the background, reinforcing the neoclassical atmosphere of the setting.