It belongs to the sacra conversazione genre and features saints John the Baptist, Paul, Mary Magdalene and Jerome.

No documents survive to assist in its dating, which is solely based on stylistic comparison to the free composition and rich colours of Titian's Assumption.

In 1745 most of the Este collection was bought by the Duke of Saxony, bringing it to its present home.

A parted curtain, an architectural detail and a bright sky form the backdrop for the characters, who are depicted at half-length.

The arrangement of the protagonists is extremely free, in the spirit of a variety of attitudes and expressions that was the basis of the "modern style" then in vogue.