Presented in a Neo-gothic frame that echoes its subject, this painting depicts the crypt of church Saint-Irénée in Lyon. Fleury Richard had used the crypt not long before painting this composition, setting up a studio there after the French Revolution, when the building was no longer used for religious purposes. He created sketches during this time, one of which is probably the basis for this composition. The scene does not refer to any particular episode from history or literature; it features a knight in prayer before an altar, while a soldier stands in the doorway holding his helm, his shield resting on the ground. The stained-glass window is broken and the cross has been pulled down in an echo of the damaged building that the painter would have known. The artist added these two figures to a contemporary view of the crypt.

Fleury Richard, one of the leading figures from the Lyon School at the beginning of the 19th century, sparked a new trend for the 'passé national' – the French nation’s past – which would later achieve great popularity. Under his brush, the Middle Ages, 16th and 17th centuries were brought back to life, often in an intimate light. His work is marked by a passion for reproducing scenes from the past and creating archaeological settings through the use of decor and costumes. This pictural movement was named 'anecdotal genre painting' by the critics, and later known as 'troubadour ' .