Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints Peter, Bartholomew, Catherine of Alexandria, and Paul, and (below) the Nativity; left wing (top to bottom): Annunciatory Angel, Crucified Christ with the Virgin, Saints Mary Magdalen and John, and Christ as the Man of Sorrows; right wing (top to bottom): Virgin Annunciate, Saints Onophrius and Paphnutius, and Saint Onophrius Buried by Saint Paphnutius.

In the pictureThe pointed central panel shows the enthroned Madonna and Child with four saints and the Nativity below, and the side wings show, from top to bottom, the Annunciation, the Crucifixion and the story of hermit saints, one scene to a compartment. Red and blue abound on the gold ground, and the edges of the wings have red borders. Opened, it is 45cm wide.

BackgroundA triptych like this could be closed up like a box by folding its wings and carried on journeys. Packing more than ten scenes into a small picture reflects the aim of having all the subjects of prayer in a single object. Matteo di Pacino was a painter active in Florence in the late 14th century, and the story of the hermits Onophrius and Paphnutius on the right wing is an uncommon subject.

Puzzle tipWith so many compartments, every piece has a clue. Set the large frame first with the Madonna and Child of the central panel, the triangular peak at the top and the red border pieces of both wings, then fill each compartment by color. Solved at 300 pieces, it is fun to watch the small scenes emerge one by one.