The painter from Cortona provided a decisive contrast to the round form of the tondo with his composition that is marked by verticals and horizontals. What is especially remarkable is that the Christ Child, which was probably based on works from antiquity, is shown standing next to the monumental figure of the seated Virgin. The naked youth loosening his sandals to the right derives from the famous ancient sculpture, the so-called 'Boy with Thorn'. This can be interpreted as a proselyte preparing himself for baptism and, therefore, is a reference to deliverance from the original sin.