An equestrian portrait of King Felipe III (1578-1621), the son of Felipe II (1527-1598) and Ana de Austria (1549-1580), with a seascape in the background. He is dressed as sumptuously as his high position warrants, with the famous “Pilgrim” pearl on his hat and the large ruff collar of Dutch lace of the sort that would be prohibited in 1623 by his son's royal ruling against sumptuosity.

The seascape is thought to be an allusion to the king's trip to Portugal in 1619. The rearing horse and the staff the king holds in his right hand serve to emphasized the image of power and majesty.

This painting hung on one of the smaller sides of the Hall of Kingdoms at Madrid's Buen Retiro Palace, although it was apparently made earler and then retouched for its new location. It is listed in the 1772 and 1794 inventories of Madrid's Royal Palace and entered the Prado Museum collection in 1819.