Margaret Smith stands full-length, her body turned slightly to the left while her face looks out directly, her expression calm and composed. She wears a shimmering silver gown with voluminous sleeves, decorated with delicate gold embroidery and a blue ribbon at her waist. A string of pearls encircles her neck, and a matching pearl earring glints at her left ear, catching the light that falls from the left side of the canvas.

Her right hand gently gathers the folds of her dress, while her left arm extends gracefully to touch a heavy red curtain that sweeps down from above. Behind her, a classical column rises, its base just visible at the lower right, and a balustrade runs along the background, separating the figure from a landscape of trees and distant blue sky. The leaves of the tree to the left are painted in warm brown and ochre tones, contrasting with the cool blues and silvers of her attire.

The artist renders the fabric of her gown with meticulous attention, using fluid, broad brushstrokes to evoke its sheen and weight, while the gold embroidery is picked out in fine, precise lines. The composition is carefully balanced, with the vertical of the column and the sweep of the curtain framing Margaret Smith and drawing attention to her poised stance. The lower left corner of the painting is filled by the wide, shadowed hem of her gown, which pools on the dark floor and catches subtle highlights.

The background at the upper left is dominated by a large, leafy tree with branches extending toward the sky, its foliage rendered in loose, soft brushstrokes. The red curtain to the right falls in deep folds, creating strong vertical lines and casting a shadow onto the stone column behind it. Light falls most strongly on her face, chest, and the upper part of her gown, creating a gentle contrast with the more muted, shaded areas at the edges and bottom of the canvas. Every detail, from the curl of her hair to the folds at her feet, is painted with a clarity that suggests both status and individuality.

Portrait of Margaret Smith, Mrs. Thomas Carey, later lady Edward Herbert (1606-1678) was painted in 1630 by Anthony van Dyck.