This is a fragment of an altarpiece made for the high altar of the Benedictine abbey at Liesborn. It comes from the central scene, which depicted the Crucifixion; a fragment showing Christ's head is also in the National Gallery's collection. It was common for Crucifixion scenes to include the Virgin Mary mourning her son beneath the Cross.Beside her are two third-century saints, the brothers Cosmas and Damian, as the altarpiece was dedicated to them, among others. They are richly dressed in fur-trimmed clothing and they hold ointment jars, a reference to their medical expertise. According to their legend they healed many people but did not accept payment for treatment.The fluttering cloth in the top right corner is part of Christ's loincloth; below, we see part of Christ's right leg, details which confirm the position of the fragment in the altarpiece.