The painting depicts a religious scene. Its composition is vertical and framed at the top by a semicircular arch. The most important figures within the hierarchy of the Church are positioned higher than the others. The composition is divided into a heavenly and an earthly sphere. The background is radiant, filled with warm, golden tones.

At the top of the painting, slightly left of the center, sits the Madonna and Child surrounded by angels. She is seated on a cloud. She holds the Child on her right knee and leans toward Him. The Virgin wears a veil from beneath which strands of brown hair fall onto her forehead. Her eyelids are slightly lowered as if she is looking downward. She is dressed in a blue gown. Her figure is enveloped in light.

Jesus is depicted as an infant. He is wrapped at the waist in a white cloth. He looks toward a putto, a small angel, who hovers to His left. Jesus stretches His hand out toward him.

Below Mary and Jesus, slightly to the right, stands a young man: Saint Sebastian. He is half-naked, with his hips draped in a cloth. Behind his legs, to the left on the floor, are elements of armour—a helmet lying on the ground and a shield partially visible behind his legs. The shield is oval and leans against something behind Sebastian. These elements refer to the time when Sebastian served as commander of the imperial guard under Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus.

The saint’s figure is shown as if in motion. Light and shadow sharply define his muscles. His torso is arched backward. His right arm is raised and bent at the elbow. A chain attached to a wooden post binds his right wrist. His left arm is tied with a rope at the biceps. His left leg is slightly extended forward and emerges from beneath the drapery. An arrow pierces his left thigh, alluding to his martyrdom. His head is tilted back, his gaze fixed on the angel hovering directly above him. The angel holds a martyr’s crown, which he is about to place upon Sebastian’s head. The Virgin looks on at this very moment.

To the right of Saint Sebastian stands a pedestal. On it rests a marble statue of Christ as Salvator Mundi, the Savior of the World. Christ faces us in left profile. He stands upright and wears a crown. His right hand is raised in blessing, while his left arm is bent at the elbow, the hand turned palm-up. On his left hand rests a globe. Behind the statue, on the pedestal, a small flame burns.

To the left of Saint Sebastian stands Saint Paul. He has brown, curly hair and a beard reaching his chest. Although he leans on the hilt of a sword, he stands upright. His left hand rests on the sword’s hilt, and on it he props the elbow of his right arm. With his right hand he supports his chin. He wears a red robe reaching halfway down his calves. A green drapery is wrapped around his hips and falls to the ground.

Before Saint Sebastian, slightly lower, appears a female figure—Saint Margaret. She kneels on her right knee. She is dressed in a modest grey habit, and her hair is covered with a veil. Her left arm is raised to the left, holding a cross. Her right arm is bent at the elbow, her right hand pointing toward the cross she holds. Beneath her knee lies a subdued dragon, which she pins to the ground. Because of her monastic attire, it is possible this figure represents Saint Martha rather than Saint Margaret of Antioch, although a dragon is also Margaret’s attribute.

The dragon is shown in left profile. Its snout resembles that of a dog, while its body and long neck are covered with green scales. Its red eyes stare upward, and from its open jaws protrude white fangs. Its front left leg is bent, ending in sharp, curved claws.

Audio description: Agata Lech
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol