Bento Coelho da Silveira executed this painting for the Colégio das Ursulinas. It represents one of the preferred themes of 17th century art: the association of the infancy and the Passion of Christ, in a strong catechizing message. In this scene of the Adoration of Christ, the young St. John the Baptist announces the future Passion and Redemption. The ‘Precursor’, kneeling, grasps a rudimentary cross in one hand while the other points to the Christ Child who holds a similar ‘toy’. The Virgin, St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth surround them forming points of connection in the elliptical composition – suggestive of the crown of thorns – and are accentuated by the light and colour. Their looks converge in the same direction, towards the main figure: Jesus. On the right, a base of a column frames the scene – in an allusion to the Temple – whilst on the left, is a backcloth showing a landscape with birds in flight, an element rarely found in the work of this artist.