Conceived as an intimate celestial vision, this painting would have been made for private devotional use. Its style, with a combination of short, textured brushstrokes and liquid, almost transparent glazes, is strongly influenced by the great sixteenth-century Parmesan artist, Parmigianino (to whom it was incorrectly attributed in the nineteenth century). Procaccini was one of the most prolific and successful Lombard artists of the early seventeenth century. This painting is recorded in the collection of King Charles I, and was almost certainly the first work by the artist to enter Britain.