The Christ Child gestures a blessing, while two angels look up from below. By having one angel look directly at the viewer and by pushing the figures into our space—separated from the distant and dreamy landscape beyond—the artist brings the figures into our world. The gold star on the Virgin’s shoulder is a reference to one of her titles as Stella Maris, or Star of the Sea, emphasizing her role as a sign of hope and a guiding light for Christians.