While they were waiting for the right moment, Susanna entered the garden one day, just as she had on previous days, accompanied only by her maids. Because it was hot, she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one there except two elders, who were hiding and watching her. Susanna said to her maids: "Bring me soap and perfume and close the garden doors so I can bathe." They obeyed, closed the doors of the garden, and went out through a side gate to bring what Susanna had asked for. They didn’t know that the elders were hiding inside. As soon as the maids had left, the two elders got up and ran to her. They said: "The garden doors are shut, and no one can see us. We are burning with desire for you; so give yourself to us. If you refuse, we will testify that a young man was here with you, and that is why you sent your maids away." Susanna groaned and said: "I am trapped on every side! If I give in, it will mean my death; if I refuse, I won’t escape your hands. But I would rather fall into your hands without sinning than sin in the sight of the Lord." Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice. The two elders also began to shout against her, and one of them ran to open the garden doors. When the people in the house heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in through the side gate to see what had happened. When the elders told their story, the servants were deeply ashamed, because nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna. The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim, the two elders also came, full of wicked schemes against Susanna to have her put to death. Daniel (13, 15–28)

Another story told in the Book of Daniel is that of Susanna, a beautiful young woman married to a man named Joakim. Two elderly judges, who met daily in their home to settle the people’s disputes, developed an uncontrollable desire for Susanna. One day, they pretended to leave the house after their usual meeting, but instead they hid in the garden where they knew Susanna used to take her baths. Taking advantage of the absence of the maids, they appeared in front of Susanna and threatened her, saying that if she didn’t agree to be with them, they would accuse her of having found her with another man. Since she refused, they slandered her, and she was put on trial to be stoned. Susanna was saved by the intervention of the young prophet Daniel, who became aware of the injustice.

The scene represented is the moment where she is preparing to take a bath. Susanna covers her naked body with a veil while the old men are watching her. The figures around them are shown doing ordinary things and appear to be unaware of the tense moment.