Study for a painting of The Angels Appearing to the Shepherds, 1774 1772 - 1774

This is a study drawing by the renowned American painter Benjamin West, completed between 1772 and 1774. The drawing depicts a scene from the Bible, where angels appear to the shepherds, announcing the birth of Christ. West uses a combination of pen and brown wash to create a detailed composition of the scene. The drawing is a preparatory study for a larger painting of the same subject. This study is a beautiful example of West's meticulous planning and execution of his artwork. The drawing is currently in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark.