The painting is a formal portrait of a man and a woman, most likely a princely couple. They are shown slightly from the side, in full figure. They sit close together, upright, against the backdrop of a richly furnished, undefined interior filled with paintings. The woman turns slightly toward her husband. Both are dressed in formal, sumptuous, and elegant attire.

The man is positioned on the left side of the canvas, to the right of his wife. He sits on a throne or an ornate chair with a backrest. Draped over his shoulders is a gold cloak, beneath which appears a breastplate all’antica, shaped in imitation of ancient armour. Its surface is modeled to resemble a muscular chest and abdomen. Under the armour he wears a light tunic with long, puffed sleeves. The collar of his shirt reaches his double chin. His clothing extends above the knee, revealing his knee and part of his calf. His high boots reach mid-calf. His right arm is bent at the elbow, with his fingers curled and resting knuckle-side down on the armrest of the chair. His left hand is turned upward in a formal, inviting gesture. His full face is fair and slightly flushed. His hair is dark and closely cropped, as is his beard. His mustache is curled at the ends. His gaze is directed toward the viewer.

The woman is placed slightly left of the center of the painting, seated on the left side of her husband. Portraying the wife on the left side followed contemporary portrait conventions. She wears a white gown, a blue all’antica drape, and a grey bodice adorned with precious stones and jewelry. Around her neck is a necklace of small pearls. She wears dangling pearl earrings, and on the little finger of her left hand she has a ring. Her right hand rests near her abdomen. Her round facial features are soft and delicate, her complexion fair, with lightly flushed cheeks. Her chestnut hair – brown with a reddish tint – is styled into small curls and arranged according to the fashion of the period.

Above the couple’s heads, among the clouds, hovers a putto – a small angel. In one hand it holds a laurel wreath, in the other a crown. In the lower left part of the painting, next to the man, another putto stands by a small table and presents two hearts tied together with a red ribbon. It places the hearts on the tabletop, which is supported by an ornate, stylized leg in the shape of dolphins.

The figures sit against a wall painted in dark browns and reds. At the couple’s feet spreads a red fabric. On the wall hang paintings in gilded frames. Among them only one is distinct: a painting depicting a library. It appears on the right side of the composition and serves as a significant element.

Warm, dark tones dominate the painting, and transitions between light and shadow are subtle. The portrait has been cropped on the left side, altering its proportions. Originally the couple was likely placed at the center of the composition.

Audio description: Agata Lech
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol