El Greco executed this painting for the Spanish king, Philip II. It was probably the first picture he painted in Spain. The technique, format, medium and elements of the composition all recall works from the artist’s years in Italy. One of the work’s titles is The Adoration of the Name of Jesus. In the upper centre of the painting the letters "IHS" appear in an aureole. These initials stand for "Jesus, Hominum Salvator", meaning "Jesus, the Saviour of Mankind". Among the kneeling figures in the foreground we can see Philip II dressed in black.

The deeper meaning of the painting is disputed. Its Biblical inspiration is to be found in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which relates "...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things in hell". Another interpretation sees the picture as an allegory of the Holy League, the alliance of Spain, Venice and the Papacy, which was formed to counter the Ottoman Turks in 1571.