Here Gossaert depicted the Holy Family sitting on a bench next to a tree, of which we can see only the trunk. The Virgin Mary dandles the naked Christ child on her lap as he turns his head to look at us. Next to them is Joseph, who offers Mary a flower. Gossaert paid a great deal of attention to the drapery folds. Their detailed execution and almost sculptural quality are in contrast to the sketchier, less-worked-out figures. In the background faint lines seem to indicate first thoughts for a possible architectural setting. The exquisite drawing might have been a preliminary study for an unidentified painting or print. Another possibility might be that the drawing was meant to be an independent work, but for an unknown reason the artist left it unfinished.