An old man with a full white beard sits in front of a neutral background, his upper body is turned to the left and his head is turned to the side. The old man has his mouth open to speak, but looks past the viewer and addresses an imaginary person outside the frame. He wears a brown velvet beret on his head that is pushed back at an angle. A voluminous brown coat, fastened with a gold clasp across his chest, covers him. His right hand extends forward and holds an open book. He holds one page with his thumb. A second book lies closed at the scholar's side. The light falls from the top left on the temples and forehead and the disheveled, white hair. The aged skin on the face and hands is impressively described by visible brush strokes. Oil on canvas, 78.5 × 62cm