The Virgin, on the left, supports the Christ Child as he places a ring on the right index finger of Saint Catherine, on the right. She has her left hand on a fragment of the wheel of her martyrdom; the young Baptist is at the lower left with a scroll inscribed in gothic characters ‘ECCE AGNUS’.

Historically attributed to Titian, this painting is now thought to be one a small but growing number of works that can be securely attributed to Titian’s younger brother, Francesco di Gregorio Vecellio (born c. 1490). Nevertheless it is much inspired by Titian’s work; the Baptist is a reversal of the one in the Madonna of the Cherries and the unusual brown colour scheme seems indebted to such works as the Madonna with Saints Stephen, Ambrose and Maurice (Louvre).

There are at least nine copies and other versions of the composition, but pentimenti including the addition of the white cloth in the Virign’s hands, the painting out of a white veil originally worn by St Catherine and minor adjustments to almost every profile give the impression that this is the first version of its type.