A kindly elderly Santa with a full white beard and small round spectacles sits in a deep tufted brown leather wingback, reading a large antique book open on his lap. A golden glow rises from the pages and softly lights his face, beard and hands.

To the right, a tall fir is hung with warm string lights, red glass baubles, cream stars and dark red bows, with wrapped gifts at its base. Behind Santa are a candle lantern and a pine garland on a dark wood mantel and an old gilt-framed landscape on the paneled wall, and a plaid red wool blanket drapes over the arm of the chair.

The lighting is warm chiaroscuro, with bokeh-like sparkles from the tree lights and deep shadows falling away into the background. Loose, feathery strokes in the fur trim and pine needles and thick buttery highlights give a hushed, nostalgic storybook warmth.