The two panels depicting the vision of Joseph and his return to Mary are part of the predella interior of the 1518 altarpiece dedicated to the Life of the Virgin in the church of St. Mary's in Lübeck. Both panels are based on the account in the Gospel of Matthew and its later embellishments which speak of Joseph's doubts about his wife's pregnancy and his decision to leave her. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his dream and told him to desist so that God's plan could be fulfilled.