In the laid-back and natural expression of the face, which arises only in the presence of well-known people, in the emphasized softness of the features, there is something unique to Tropinin personal style. Against the background of a cloudy sky and a valley with a low horizon line, a figure of a middle-aged man dressed in a dark full dress stands out in a sonorous silhouette. The black spot of the full dress is animated by the brilliance of two order stars: St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Vladimir. In the posture of the Prince, one can feel social graces polished from a young age, aristocratism, pride.

The composition of the portrait is quite common for the era of the late 18th and the first half of the 19th century. The figure is in half-turn, almost in profile, the face - in three quarters. The realistic image of the model is complemented by a romantic note lent to it by the landscape and disturbing sky background. The sky, light near the horizon, darkens at the top, which is determined by deep grey-pink colours. The low horizon makes the figure significant, and the intensely rich colours of the costume enhance the romantic image. The costume of Golitsyn has no defining details, only the presence of order stars confirms that it is a dress coat, which was the official uniform at the beginning of the 19th century.