A radiant Virgin Mary, dressed in vivid red and deep blue, rises at the center of the composition, her arms outstretched and gaze lifted upwards as she is assumed into heaven. Below her, a tightly packed group of apostles crowd the lower edge, their faces turned upward in awe, wonder, and gesture, some reaching toward her with outstretched arms while others clasp their hands or shield their eyes from the dazzling light above. The apostles are rendered in a striking array of colors—fiery orange, olive green, and rich brown—each figure individualized by gesture, posture, and expression, with dramatic foreshortening adding to the sense of movement and emotion.

Above Mary, a golden burst of light fills the upper zone, where God the Father, draped in dark red and accompanied by an angel in green, leans forward with outstretched arms, while another angel beside him holds a crown, ready to place it on the Virgin's head. The composition is arranged in three distinct zones: the apostles on earth below, the Virgin and angels in the center, and the divine presence above, all separated by swirling clouds and radiant light that guide the viewer’s gaze upward. The brushwork is bold and energetic, especially in the drapery and clouds, with luminous highlights and deep shadows creating a sense of volume and drama throughout the scene.

Small details, such as the stone sarcophagus glimpsed at the bottom and the varied gestures of the apostles, reveal the artist’s attention to narrative and psychological nuance. Titian painted this monumental altarpiece between 1516 and 1518 for the high altar of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice, where it remains in its original setting. The painting belongs to the High Renaissance and the Venetian school, and is recognized as the largest altarpiece in Venice, with figures rendered well over life-size to suit the vast space of the church.