Alexander Fraser
The Shepherd’s Grace
1851
Mezzotint Engraving
9 1/2 x 10 1/2″ (24.4cm x 26.6cm)
Wetmore Print Collection, Connecticut College
FW-0368

Fraser’s stoic and precise rendering of a family saying grace before a meal, illustrates Victorian Scottish Protestant ideals of family life and child rearing.The family unit was considered to be the foundation upon which a peaceful society rested, as families were oriented to values based on scripture. The male figure seated at the head of the table hovers over the other figures with a calm authority, illustrating his successful familial governance. Meal times allowed parents the opportunity to promote godliness and courteous behavior in their children, which is seen here through the small child whose body language conveys a respectful adherence to the adults in the midst of prayer.