Subspecies include:[1] This widespread species is present in the Palearctic realm from the southern parts of continental Europe (northern Spain, southern France, Germany, Italy, and eastwards to Slovakia and Greece), to the Caucasus, western Siberia, Korea and Japan.

[1][2] It prefers warm and sunny forest edges, woodland and bushy areas where the host plants grow, at an elevation of 75–1,750 metres (246–5,741 ft) above sea level.

[4] Wings are rather rounded, the basic color of the upperside of the forewings is bright orange, with an incomplete black marginal band.

The underside of the hindwings have a yellowish postdiscal band and the marginal area is completely suffused with purple, with a marble effect (hence the common name).

This species is very similar to the lesser marbled fritillary (Brenthis ino), but the latter is slightly smaller and the coloration of said patch is completely yellow.