Half-length portrait; Knipe is turned to the right of the picture; his head is surrounded by a fine wig; he wears black academic robes that fade into the dark background and a white collar. Inscribed:
Three-quarter length, seated, facing right; he wears red and white music gown, over black suit and hat; he sits on a green chair. There is a candle and a book in the right background.
Landscape of the Thames at Windsor in the centre left background is Windsor Castle, framed by trees; its reflections can be seen in the river, which flows towards it, having emerged from the left of the picture; on the bank in the centre are five cows, and to the right there is a man seated upon a fallen tree trunk. The painting is signed in the bottom-right on the trunk of the tree: 'TCH 1816'
Dyed, painted silk, on a hessian backing. On the left the arms of the Commonwealth: the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew and the Irish harp and in escutcheon a lion rampant guardant for Cromwell. On the right are the quarterings of his wife. Inscribed verso with: 'this ensign was snatched from the bier of the tyrant Oliver Cromwell, when his waxen effigy, adorned with royal state, was being magnificently displayed in the Church of St. Peter, Westminster'.