The genre of the Sacra Conversazione, which features the Virgin in majesty with the Christ child surrounded by saints, appeared in Italy during the 15th century and flourished in the 16th century. The selection of saints in the present work, all of them Benedictine monks and mostly originating from Northern France and Germany, suggests a commission from a northern Benedictine monastery. Each of the saints depicted here either defended the Catholic faith against heresies or promoted Marian devotion. This little enamel can therefore be considered a statement against Protestantism in the aftermath of the Council of Trent, which ended in 1563. Sacra Conversazione was undoubtedly made for private worship due to its size; and should be dated circa 1600 before the reformation of the Saint Vanne monastery in 1604 and the Saint Maur monastery in 1618. The aim of these reforms was to return to the initial vow of poverty and a stricter application of the Benedictine Rule, which was in opposition to individualism, especially in the early period.
