[1] The painting was commissioned and executed in 1597 for Francesco Maria II Della Rovere, Duke of Urbino.

Some years later he was asked for the artist, probably with the purpose of a commission, by the ambassador Bernardo Maschi on behalf of the Spanish queen Margaret of Austria.

Knowing about the artist's slowness but still wanting to please the queen, the duke decided to donate the work in his possession, which therefore went to Spain, in 1605.

[2][3][4] In a stable with a donkey and an ox as company, depicted partially at the right, the newborn Jesus is seen lying on straw in a manger.

Barocci uses warm pastel tones and, like in other paintings, typically pays great attention to the depiction of the hands.