The Adoration of the Shepherds
1724
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1724
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows four people in a dim, rough space. One woman sits holding a baby, her head covered. Two men stand near her, one with a hat and staff, the other barefoot. A fourth person kneels, hands clasped. The lines are scratchy, almost like hurried notes—no smooth colors, just shadows and quick strokes. The baby looks like it’s the focus, wrapped in cloth. The others seem to be paying attention, but their faces are simple, almost like sketches for a bigger work. The paper has a grainy texture, and the ink looks smudged in spots. Look up Baroque next to see how this rough style fits into a bigger art movement.
![Joseph and His Brother in Egypt [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/86cfb4fbb2662a76/thumb.webp)
