This panel formed the centre of a polyptych commissioned by a member of the Quaratesi family for the high altar of San Niccolò Oltrarno, Florence. It was flanked by Saints Mary Magdalene, Nicholas of Bari, John the Baptist and George; the predella showed scenes from the Life of Saint Nicholas.

The Virgin is seated on a gold cushion set on a box like throne covered with green and gold cloth; she wears a pale-blue robe with a gold hem over a gold and purple foliate-pattern dress, and a white veil. The Christ Child is seated on her lap wearing a pale olive robe stippled with gold and lined coral-pink, over a gold tunic with blue and red flowers. He holds small daisy-like flower in his right hand. The cloth of honour behind the Virgin is silver (now tarnished) glazed with red, with stylized leaf patterns and fringes. There are three angels on either side of the throne, and in the tondo above is the Pantocrator, with angels on either side.

The highly decorative nature of the variously patterned luxury textiles, the elaborately tooled gold, and the delicate nature of the figures contrast strongly with the same subject painted by Masaccio a year later. The gable with God the Father is original but within a modern frame.

Inscribed on the Virgin’s halo: ‘AVE. MARIA. GRATIA. PLENA.’; on the Child’s halo: ‘YHS. XPS. FILII’; on Christ’s halo in the gable: ‘DS. PR. O ME’; formerly inscribed below (according to Richa): ‘OPVS GENTILIS DE FABRIANO MCCCCXXV MENSIS MAII’.