James Speight, founder of Dunedin's famous Speight's Brewery, is the imposing subject of this rare portrait. Dressed in beaver skin top hat, gold fob chain and full beard, Speight founded the brewery along with Charles Greenslade and William Dawson. The Pride of the South was first brewed on 4 April 1876 at the present Rattray Street site. The opening of Speight's Ale Houses throughout New Zealand followed.

This work by London born portrait painter Arthur Von Meyern (1853? -1893) is painted in the manner of his contemporary, the artist Gottfried Lindauer (1839 - 1926). Von Meyern is listed as teaching at Braemar House School Dunedin in 1884, his two daughters Ellen and Blanche were also artists. In this work he successfully captures the powerful personality of the original Southern Man.