An unidentified man stands in full-length pose wearing an elaborate theatrical or ceremonial costume styled after 16th-century Spanish court dress, photographed as a hand-colored albumen CDV and issued by the Magasin de Photographies on Via Condotti in Rome. The mount's printed imprint places the studio among the fashionable French-language commercial establishments that served Rome's expatriate and tourist clientele in the 1860s and 1870s. The hand-coloring is assertive and carefully applied, with particular attention given to the gold collar chain and star-shaped decorations, the red-trimmed white ruff at the neck, and the green studio floor.

The subject wears a black doublet and pleated skirt-length breeches over dark stockings and low shoes, with a short black cape draped over his left shoulder. A heavy gilded collar chain bears multiple star-burst and cross-form decorations, with additional medal badges affixed to the breast. He holds a feathered red velvet hat in his left hand and rests his right hand near a sword at his hip, posing beside a painted studio column.

The costume's combination of the gilded collar chain, multiple orders of chivalry, ruff, and rapier is consistent with theatrical or masquerade dress referencing the Spanish Habsburg court of the 16th century, a popular subject for elaborately staged CDV portraits in Rome during the 1860s.

The reverse bears the printed imprint "Magasin de Photographies / Dessins au Lavis / et Tableaux Modernes / Rome / Rue Condotti, 91" (Photography Shop / Wash Drawings / and Modern Paintings / Rome / Via Condotti, 91), with a pencil inscription below reading "Affairs of household."