A wooded landscape frames the figure of Saint Mary of Cervelló, a thirteenth-century Catalonian nun who founded the Second Order of Our Lady of Mercy. This figure has also been identified as Mary Magdalene. The penitent kneels in prayer before a crucifix. She wears the habit of her order. The light of dawn appears in the background.

Nature is the protagonist here. It is exuberant, offering shelter to the delicate and pious figure of the saint, who is theatrically illuminated by a light source over a dark background.

There are preparatory drawings for this canvas at the British Museum in London and at the Albertina Library in Vienna.

This work was painted for the Buen Retiro Palace of King Felipe IV (1605-1665) and hung in the landscape gallery, where it was accompanied by Landscape with Saint Onophre (P2256), which is also in the Prado Museum Collection.