Franz Ittenbach (1813-79) entered the Düsseldorf studio of Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow in 1832, and in 1839 went on a tour of Italy, sometimes accompanied by Karl and Andreas Muller and Ernest Deger. On his return to Germany he executed some fresoces at the Rhine church of Remagen in 1844, and then went to Munich. In 1849 he returned to Düsseldorf. The finest works of this deeply religious artist are considered to be in the Church of St Remigius in Bonn, and in Breslau in a church consecrated to the same saint. He was a professor and member of the Academy at Vienna, and was awarded medals at Cologne and Berlin.

Ittenbach painted several verisons of this composition, one of which was in the Church of St Quirinius in Neuss near Düsseldorf. Another is in the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, Jeseník, in the Czech Republic.

The Virgin stands full-length, turned half to the right, with the infant Christ in her arms; he has his arms around her neck, his head pressed lightly to her cheek; their heads are encircled by faint haloes. The Virgin stands upon a greensward covered with flowers, within a niche-shaped setting topped by a pointed arch.