Pictorial needlework depicting a beautiful woman seated beneath large gnarled and leafy tree amidst lush foliage in an idyllic pastoral landscape. The woman is depicted in the persona of a shepherdess, but she is elegantly dressed in a cream-beige gown with a coral-beige sash gathered at the lower back and wears a hat with wide brim and round cylindrical crown, and shoes with low heels. Her staff leans against the crook of her elbow and her hands rest on her lap. To her left, several sheep are standing just behind a rock formation. In the distance a shepherd is tending a flock gathered on the foothill beyond which is a view of a mountainous landscape and small patch of sky. With the exception of this area of sky, which is painted, the entire picture is embroidered. The majority of the piece is worked in wool threads, with some silk used in the depiction of minor portions of the costume, which is worked primarily in flat stitches (encroaching satin?). Dimension is shown in the stitching to depict the cuff, the flounce of the neckline and the gathering of the sash at the lower back. The trees and landscape are created using encroaching satin, stem, and looped stitches. The embroidery is excellent with beautiful subtle shading in the dress and sheep and bold, dimensional use of looped stitches in the trees. Multiple colors of threads including dark, light and medium shades of blue-green, yellow green, lt. yellow-green, lt. and medium rust, rust-red, mustard yellow, and dark, medium, and light olive brown, dark brown, off white, taupe, dark taupe, and cream are blended in a painterly manner. The draftsmanship indicates a professional artist as does the face, hair, and hands, which are painted on paper and applied to (or spacers) in a carved, gessoed, and gilded wood frame "with bead and leaf borders" which appears to be original to the work. The glass appears old, but may or may not be original.