A young woman in a blue mantle and rose dress sits at the center of a round composition, her gaze turned gently toward the two children beside her. She holds a small book in her left hand, resting it on her knee, while her right arm encircles the blond, unclothed child who stands at her feet. This child, reaching with both hands, grasps a slender wooden cross offered by the second child, who kneels on the ground to the left.

The kneeling child, clothed in a rough garment of brown fur, looks up intently, his expression earnest as he presents the cross. The figures are grouped closely, their bodies forming a harmonious circle that echoes the tondo shape of the panel itself. Soft daylight bathes the scene, illuminating the smooth, pale skin of the children and the delicate folds of the woman's garments.

Behind them, a serene landscape stretches into the distance, with gentle hills, a calm body of water, and two buildings nestled among trees. The sky is a clear blue, with a few wisps of cloud, and the distant mountains are rendered in cool tones that recede into the background. Every detail, from the wildflowers at the woman's feet to the fine strands of hair, is painted with remarkable precision and clarity.

The brushwork is smooth and controlled, with subtle transitions of color and light that give the forms a lifelike softness. The artist uses vivid blues, reds, and earth tones, contrasting the woman's garments with the natural greens and browns of the landscape. The round format emphasizes the intimacy of the scene, enclosing the figures in a gentle embrace of space and light. The Alba Madonna is created by Raphael, whose name appears in the title line.