Visual Description

In this vertical painting, a little over 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide, a man (Richard Worsam Meade) sits at his writing desk, and turns slightly to his right to look directly at the viewer. He is seated in the corner of a room; behind him is a dark gray wall that leads to the right wall and a paned window under which the desk is positioned. The window shutters fold open to show a pale blue sky with clouds.

Meade’s face is mature but smooth and unwrinkled. He has brown eyes and a small mouth, and there is a flush to his checks and prominent nose. His brown hair is cut short and extends into long, groomed sideburns. He wears a dark blue velvet coat with brass buttons over a white waistcoat and cravat. Meade sits with his right leg crossed over his left knee, displaying gold knee breeches, silvery-white silk stockings, and fitted black leather shoes. His right arm lies across the back of the chair as he grips the top corner to turn and face the viewer. His left arm rests on two books that are stacked on the writing desk: a Tratado de Comercio (Commercial Trade Agreement) and the Ordenes de Bilbao (Orders of Bilbao). In his left hand he holds an orange-patterned cloth that is draped over an unseen object. Business papers on the desk bear the image of the Pillars of Hercules, part of Spanish royal heraldry. Behind the books and papers, there is a silver tray with inkwells and quills.

An oriental style rug covers the floor in vibrant colors—reds, blues, greens, and golds—which are repeated throughout the work. At the bottom left of the painting, the rug is rumpled into large folds. On the rug behind Meade are books on the histories of Spain and America.