After the Virgin’s death, her body was taken up into heaven. The Apostles gathered around her tomb find only flowers within. Some stare in amazement or are lost in grief; others, understanding the miracle, look heavenward to see the Virgin in glory. To relieve Thomas’ doubts, the Virgin offers physical proof, giving him her sash, a famous relic. At bottom is a picture within a picture: a Crucifixion, a reference to the Mass celebrated at the altar below this painting, which was commissioned for the Spini family chapel in Santa Trinita, Florence.
