Lotto began to work on the piece in 1506 as a devotional for the church of San Domenico in Recanati.

San Domenico still contains a Lotto fresco depicting St Vincent Ferrer.

The polyptych includes a larger altarpiece in the center, flanked by two smaller ones in the same shape.

The niches in the background, featuring Byzantine-style mosaics, are inspired by earlier works by Giovanni Bellini, while the checkerboard pavement is an example of knowledge of the geometrical perspective introduced by the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century.

Saint Dominic himself is portrayed in the central panel while receiving the white scapular from the Virgin.