The Virgin Mary and Child are surrounded by the Virgin Martyrs: Catherine of Alexandria (with a ring), Ursula, Agnes and Margaret. The saint with a crown and book cannot be clearly identified; the saint giving the child a crown-like circlet could also be Barbara or Cecilia. This style of painting is probably based on a picture originally by Hugo van der Goes (d. 1482), now lost, that was copied and varied in Bruges, in particular, by the circle of Gerard David. Isenbrant also owes the style of this work to his teacher, David.