The composition is a complex narrative. It depicts the yawning mouth of Hell consuming those souls not adoring Christ’s Name. It also depicts the entire Church: the Church Triumphant occupies the upper part of the painting; the Church Penitent walks along a fiery path in the background against classical architecture of columns and arches; and, most prominently, the Church Militant kneels on the ground and extends to the left.
The painting celebrates the Battle of Lepanto, in which the Islamic Ottoman Empire lost a naval battle—for the first time since the 15th century—to the Holy League, an alliance of Spain, Venice, and the Papal States.
Here, representatives of the Holy League kneel in thanksgiving and adoration before the Name of Christ: Philip II of Spain (in characteristic black), Pope St. Pius V (in red gloves and blue-lined cope), Don Juan of Austria (leaning on black sword), and the Doge of Venice (in gold feathered cape). More information on the miraculous yet little-known Battle of Lepanto is provided.
