The Emperor Trajan was persuaded to postpone affairs of state, and render justice to a widow for her dead child (Dante, 'Purgatorio', X:76 ff).
This panel and 'Trajan and the Widow II' are presumably from a cassone, and are probably of the late 15th century.
Spruce was very popular as a support in Verona. The unusual frame may be original, although if so, it has been heavily regilded.
