The Emperor Theodosius (4th century AD) prostrates himself before the Bishop of Milan, who absolves him in front of the cathedral and thus allows him to enter. The buildings are vaguely inspired by the architecture of Seville while some of the figures are portraits. The canvas is one of a series on the life of Saint Ambrose that Valdés Leal painted for Ambrosio de Spinola (1632-1684), Archbishop of Seville.