Marie Ellenrieder (1791-1863) was chiefly a painter of portraits and historical subjects. In 1813, Ellenrieder attended the Munich Academy where she was instructed by Johann Peter von Langer (1756-1824). In 1824, Ellenrieder visited Rome where she made the acquaintance of Johann Friedrich Overbeck (1789-1869) whose influence – along with that of other members of the Nazarene movement – can be discerned throughout the body of her later work.

Although there are several traditions surrounding the martyrdom of St Felicitas, the most pre-eminent is that the canonisation of the widowed Felicitas was the result of her refusal to Publius the Prefect of Rome – on behalf of herself and her sons – to renounce the Christian faith. The consequence of her refusal was that she was forced to endure the sight of her sons being put to death individually before being beheaded herself.

In this depiction of the family before their matyrdom (or after in Heaven in the manner of a 'sacra conversazione'), St Felicitas is shown, gazing heavenwards, standing in the centre of a group consisting of her seven sons, all of whom are dressed in the Renaissance biblical style. St Felicitas wears a wimple and gold-edged scarf whilst her children are robed in simple tunics in an assortment of bright colours. Three of the male figures are shown studying religious texts whilst the others stare contemplatively about them as though in prayer.