In 1694 John Hay was created Marquess of Tweeddale in recognition of his support for William of Orange in the years leading up to the Glorious Revolution. Medina's portrait of the Hay family was probably commissioned to celebrate this event. Although the canvas is large, the effect of so many sons, daughters, sons and daughters-in-law crowding around the Marquess (the largest figure on the left) and his wife is overwhelming. Medina worked from existing portraits to compile this dynastic statement. The Marquess's wife is shown holding a wreath of flowers, she had died in 1688, and two sons who died in infancy are looking down from the heavens.