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Kneeling to the left of the Virgin is the diminutive figure of a nun, dressed in the white robe and black cloak of the Dominican order, who presumably commissioned the work for her private devotion. Vivarini has gone to some trouble to model his forms in light and shade, and to create foreground space for them through geometric perspective. Beyond the figure group are views of distant landscape. To retain an effect of mystery and sanctity, gold is used extensively in the sky, and in the rich brocade of the Virgin's cloak. The artist appears not to be concerned with a realistic consistency of scale and the Christ Child, because of his divinity, remains oversized in relation to both the kneeling nun and the flying angels.
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