The work was commissioned by the rich merchant Matthäus Landauer of Nuremberg for a chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity and All the Saints in the Zwölfbrüderhaus ('House of Twelve Brothers'), which he had founded with Erasmus Schiltkrot in 1501.

The altar had no movable panels, as in numerous previous similar installations, and was included in a rich frame, also designed by Dürer.

God the Father wears an imperial crown and a wide gilt cloak, lined in green and supported by angels.

[2] The artist paints a host of male and female saints of Heaven, inspired by Augustine, who are led by John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary, respectively.

At left, near a cardinal who is perhaps interceding for him, is the aged Matthäus Landauer, wearing rich garments and putting down his hat.