Long description

This painting is of a male figure standing in front of a background of ancient classical remains; the Colosseum is in the mid-distance to the left. The light source from the upper left highlights his face in profile as he looks to the right. His hair is drawn back from a high forehead; his nose is long and pointed. The man wears: a scarlet jacket decorated with gold braid and buttons; a kilt made of scarlet and green checked material with matching socks; a swathe of cloth of the same design is draped over his left shoulder, falling to the floor behind him. The man is posed with his left arm crooked at his side and his right arm extended sideways with a sword held downwards in his right hand. His left foot is placed on the base of a plinth bearing a pedestal on which the statue of a female figure in a classically draped garment sits facing left with an orb held out in her right hand. The foreground is scattered with pieces of ancient masonry. The sky, dark with clouds above the foreground, reflects silvery light in the distance.