Earlier sources such as Lorenzo Ghiberti's Commentarii and Giorgio Vasari's Lives agree in mentioning the presence of a polyptych by Giotto at the high altar in the Badia Fiorentina.

In the 19th century, however, it was found in the archives of the Museum of Santa Croce of Florence, and identified thanks to a cartouche on it saying "Badia di Firenze", which was added in 1810.

In 1940, during the safe hiding of various works during World War II, Ugo Procacci noticed the polyptych being carried out of the Santa Croce basilica.

The work is composed by five framed paintings with a triangular cusp, and portrays the busts of the Virgin Mary (center) and, from the left, Saints Nicholas of Bari, John the Evangelist, Peter and Benedict, identified by their names below and their traditional attributes.

Details include the rich garments and the crosier of St. Nicholas, the gesture of the Child grasping at his mother's neckline and St. Peter's stole.