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The artist who created this painting was from Franconia, a region on the southern Rhine River in Germany, near the border of France. While we do not know the name of the artist, we do know that the main figure in the painting is Saint Martin of Tours, who was a bishop in the city of Tours in central France, until his death in 397 A.D. Standing on the altar of a church, Saint Martin holds up the Host, which symbolizes the body of Christ, and a flaming orb appears above his head. The orb represents the presence of the Holy Spirit as Saint Martin celebrates Mass.

Facing Saint Martin, is an altarpiece with five religious figures. The first figure on the left is Saint Barbara, who holds a tower because she was imprisoned in a tower for her Christian beliefs. Next is Saint Dorothea, wearing flowers in her hair and carrying a basket of flowers. Dorothea sent a gift of roses to a man who mocked her as she was about to be put to death for her beliefs. In the center of the altarpiece are the Virgin Mary and Child. To the right of the Virgin is Mary Magdalene with an unguent jar filled with her healing ointment. Saint Ursula, killed with an arrow for her Christian beliefs, stands at the far right. If you look very carefully at the altarpiece between St. Barbara and St. Dorothea, you will see two tiny hinges, suggesting that the altarpiece could be closed when not in use.

The perspective in this painting may seem strange, as if the artist painted it from two or three different points of view. The multiple perspectives were common in some paintings made during this time. The objects around Saint Martin, for example the bishop's miter, or his hat on the right side of the altar and the bishop's crook, held by the assistant, contribute symbolism and meaning to the painting. Using different perspectives allowed the artist to create a focal point for each item in the scene.

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