Inscribed lower left: “Madison Square Garden / Ringling – Barnum”. From the estate of the artist, estate stamp verso. In fine condition. From the artist’s sketchbook. Verso also bears thumbnail sketches of circus entertainers.

From April 7 to May 9, 1948, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed in Madison Square Garden, New York attracting a record attendance of 925,000. Thereafter, the Circus continued onto Boston and a tour of the eastern United States (NY Times, May 9, 1948). One of the spectacles included John Murray Anderson’s (American 1886-1954) Broadway pageant, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. This page from Henry Pitz’s sketchbook shows some thumbnail sketches of these pageant performers.