glass plate negative of a full length portrait of Lady Harriet Hamilton standing. She faces to the left looking upwards, her face captured in profile. She rests one hand on a pile of books placed on top of table beside her. A piece of lace and a pair of gloves lie alongside the books. She is dressed in the guise of Mary Queen of Scots, wearing a light colour dress, headdress and pearl stomacher. Lady Hamilton wore the costume at Countess Walewska's Ball.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Prints from this negative exists in the Collection (e.g. RCINs 2906090 and 2306474).