Datable c. 1697, this hitherto unpublished picture bears a close stylistic relationship with the series of canvases illustrating the life of the Virgin in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, painted by Luca Giordano for King Charles VI of Spain (O. Ferrari and G. Scavizzi, Luca Giordano, Naples, 1992, I, p. 345, no. A603 and pp. 168 and 172, colour pls. CI and CII; II, pp. 783-4 and 786-9, figs. 755-6, 761, 763 and 767-70). The bright colouring, definition of contours and exceptional high quality which characterise both this series and the present picture are unusual for the artist at this stage in his development. Another series of scenes from the life of the Virgin in the Real Convento de San Jeronimo at Guadelupe, painted by Giordano c. 1696, shortly before the series at Vienna, is markedly less refined (op. cit., I, pp. 342-3, no. A583; II, pp. 774-7, figs. 731-40).

The Vienna series was probably painted for one of the Spanish royal palaces, where records indicate the existence of scenes from the life of the Virgin and a Saint Joseph by Giordano (op. cit., under no. A603). It is possible that the present picture, in view of its striking technical similarity and size, may be a lost component of this as yet imprecisely defined group of paintings executed for Charles VI. Stylistically, it appears to have been painted at about the same time and is, therefore, an important new addition to the works of the artist's last years in Spain.