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The painting depicts a scene from Jacopo da Voragine's Legenda Aurea (The Golden Legend): the Meeting of Joachim and Anne outside the Golden Gate of Jerusalem.
Lippi's interest in classical Antiquity is evident in the Corinthian columns and reliefs of the Golden Gate. The rest of the architecture in the background Lippi painted in a more medieval style referring to his home town of Florence, often referred to as a new Jerusalem at the time. Lippi's Florentine roots are also demonstrated in the signature written in gold on the sill of the Golden Gate: "PHILIPPINUS DE FLORENTIA".
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