Sammartini, one of the most active and successful church musicians of eighteenth-century Milan, was a prolific composer of sacred music. His mastery of text expression is revealed at its height in his sacred cantatas, particularly in the beautiful and moving cantabile arias. This cantata for three soloists and orchestra is one of a cycle of five composed in 1751 for the Milanese Congregazione del Santissimo Entierro.