This, Burne-Jones's first cartoon for stained glass, became one of the standard designs of James Powell and Sons, The Whitefriars Glass Co. One version was used in the east window of the Congregational Church, King Street, Maidstone, 1860-62.

The term 'cartoon', as used here, means a full-sized drawing for execution in another medium, in this case stained glass. It was Burne-Jones's first design in the medium. It represents Christ as the Good Shepherd, bringing home lost sheep. It has some corrections pasted on and is numbered throughout with references for the colour of the glass. It was commissioned by James Powell and Sons of Whitefriars, the leading manufacturers of glass at the time, and became one of their standard designs. One version was used in the east window of the Congregational Church, King Street, Maidstone (1860-3), and another in St Patrick's Church, Trim, County Meath, Ireland (1869).

The source for the image of Christ carrying a lamb on his shoulders was from M Didron's "Christian Iconography" pub 1851 on p, 339. Didron was continually consulted by the artist throughout his life. A footnote from the Editor, E J Millington, observes that in many early illustrations "It is generally held by the four feet, with two hands, as in the examples given" and cites
Roma Sotterranea By Antonio Bosio (pub 1710) pages 339, 383, 455 and 461.
"It's best not to depart from tradition - brings confusion into things are at no time too easy to make clear. I'll lend you Didron" - In conversation in the Spring of 1874 with T M Rooke, quoted "Burne-Jones Talkiing" p. 28.