Robert made original Christmas cards that served as small gifts that allowed him to connect with friends and patrons. These cards became increasingly sophisticated and, as expectations around them grew, Robert felt challenged to outdo himself each year. He often set himself the double challenge to create a card that captured the spirit of a Biblical quotation and to use motifs that were recognizable from his current work. The wharf as a stage that projects out into a cosmic realm was one of Robert’s favourite devices, situating a mythic story in a contemporary local setting. The three figures following a star refers to the Christmas story of the three magi who followed the Star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-9). However the wharf and ocean setting gives a fresh and witty take to the usual desert and camel imagery of Christian lore.