The painting depicts an old king standing on a balcony of his palace, looking out over the city that stretches out before him. The city is bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun and the twinkling lights of the buildings and streets. The king himself is draped in rich, regal robes and is surrounded by a halo of light from ambient light. He looks out at the city with a sense of pride and ownership, as if he is the guardian and protector of all that lies below. The overall mood of the painting is one of quiet contemplation and reverence for the past, as the king looks back on his life and the kingdom he has spent his life building.