A group of nine women, one at center holds a baby and one at right holds a shepherdess's crook 1750 - 1850

This anonymous 18th or 19th century etching depicts a scene of nine figures, most likely a biblical scene. The composition focuses on the center figure of a man seated, looking towards the right, and gesticulating with his right hand. Two women stand behind him, one holding a small child, and the other with a crook. The artist uses simple lines to create a sense of depth and movement, leaving much of the surface of the paper blank. This drawing, like many in the 18th century, was created in a style that emphasized observation and draftsmanship. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this sketch, which is 6 inches by 8 7/8 inches.