A three-quarter length group portrait against a landscape setting. Sir John Cotton, wearing black with sleeves cut underneath to reveal a voluminous white shirt, is seated to the left. He has shoulder-length brown hair. He sits with his left hand resting on the arm of a chair, his right gesturing off to the left. A short cloak is draped over his right shoulder. Lady Cotton, in a gold dress, sits to the right. Her hair is dressed in ringlets. She sits facing towards her husband, with her head and shoulders turned towards the viewer, a ribbon and flowers in her hands. Her gown has puffed sleeves pinned over a white chemise, with a low neckline. She wears a string of pearls around her neck. Between them stands their son John, in a brown cloak, which he holds against his chest with his right hand.