Robert's inspiration for this design, which presumably represents a first idea for a frontispiece, was Rembrandt's etching of Christ healing the Sick, 'The Hundred Guilder Print' (Bartsch 74). He copied the group of figures to Christ's right extremely faithfully, the only difference being that he suppressed a number of them in order to allow sufficient space for the inscription. This drawing dates from the artist's stay in Rome. Robert may have been inspired by Fragonard who also copied Rembrandt; such as the copies recorded in the Gros sale of 1778. Robert's interest in prints developed in 1763 a year after this drawing when Watelet and Madame de Comte arrived in Rome. Most of Robert's etchings of Les Soirées Romaines date from this period. Another design for a frontispiece dated 1760 was offered at Drouot, 2 March 1935, lot 135