 Canvas was increasing in popularity, perhaps especially for secular paintings for country villas, which were decorated more simply, cheaply and cheerfully than those for city "palazzi", being designed for pleasure more than ostentatious entertainment.The painting is on two pieces of canvas, sewn together before starting, with a gesso ground tinted blue.There are differences to Botticelli's usual technique, working on panel supports, such as the lack of a green first layer under the flesh areas.