It shows similarities to his 1505 Madonna del Prato (London) and his 1510 Madonna and Child (Milan); all three have a Giorgione-influenced landscape background (here with a shepherd or villager), separated from the figures by a green curtain and with hazy blue mountains in the far background obeying the rules of aerial perspective.

The landscape or meadow in the background symbolises the medieval symbol of Mary's virginity, the hortus conclusus.

In her left hand Mary holds a book, a symbol of her fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies; on its front cover are the date and the artist's signature.

[1] It was recorded as belonging to Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Sicile, duchesse de Berry and hanging in Palazzo Vendramin Calergi (her Venetian home) between around 1844 and 1854 before an attempt was made to auction it in Paris on 19 April 1865 on behalf of the Duchesse du Berry or her son Henri, Count of Chambord.

The niece died in 1893, passing it to another member of the Bourbon family, Jaime, Duke of Madrid.