The artwork, titled “Portrait of Professor Huxley,” is a creation of the artist John Collier, rendered in the style of the Realism art movement. The piece belongs to the genre of portraiture, depicting an individual in a detailed and lifelike manner that is characteristic of Realist art.
The artwork presents Professor Huxley seated with a composed demeanor, dressed in formal attire that includes a dark suit and bow tie. He is portrayed with a tranquil yet authoritative expression, his gaze directed towards the viewer. His right arm rests on the armrest of the chair, while his left hand holds a writing instrument poised over a writing desk cluttered with papers and other reading materials. The background is rich with the presence of bookshelves filled with numerous books, suggesting an environment of intellectual pursuit and scholarly endeavor. The meticulous attention to detail in the professor’s clothing, the texture of the wooden desk, and the subtle play of light and shadow contribute to the painting’s lifelike quality and depth.