A Jolly Time
Frederick Stuart Church, a master of American illustration, creates a whimsical winter scene where a cherubic angel strums a banjo for two dancing polar bears. Painted as a 'Copyright Sketch' and dedicated to 'Miss Eve Schley,' this playful piece likely served as a design for a festive holiday greeting card in the late 19th century. The bears, one clapping castanets and the other shaking a tambourine, seem utterly delighted by the music, creating a charmingly surreal party in the snow. Church was famous for his anthropomorphic animals, often featuring them in holiday scenes for publications like Harper's Weekly, and this loose sketch captures the magic of his creative process.