Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Charles Prendergast, 1924 (brother of the artist)
Mrs. Charles Prendergast, 1948 (wife of Charles Prendergast)
Kraushaar Galleries, New York, New York,
Private collection, 1962
Davis Galleries, New York, New York, 1965
Private collection, 1965
Davis & Langdale Company, New York, New York, 1982
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1982
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Maurice Brazil Prendergast
(American, 1858–1924)
Circus Scene with Horse
1895
Monotype on cream Japanese proofing paper
Plate: 4 7/8 x 6 11/16 in. (12.4 x 17 cm)
Sheet: 8 1/4 x 11 9/16 in. (21.0 x 29.4 cm)
Mat: 19 3/16 x 14 1/4 in. (48.7 x 36.2 cm)
Sheet: 8 1/4 x 11 9/16 in. (21.0 x 29.4 cm)
Mat: 19 3/16 x 14 1/4 in. (48.7 x 36.2 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1992.78
SignedIn plate, lower right: MBP [monogram]
Interpretation
Circus Scene with Horse (CR 1590) is one of Maurice Prendergast's rare monotypes that is both dated and titled on the plate. His circus scene draws attention to a tutu clad female equestrienne, who balances on the back of a white horse. Clowns flank the central figure, one with a whip and the other holds paper rings in anticipation of the horse jumping through them while the black clad ring master observes the antics. Above the high walls of the circus ring, visitors look down on the activities. The themes of the circus, explored in eleven colored prints, and "ocean liner" subjects are only found in monotypes in Prendergast's oeuvre.
Circus Scene with Horse is one of twelve extant monotypes dated 1895, the largest group of dated colored prints. The artist pulled a second impression of this monotype that bears the same title (Williams College Museum of Art, CR 1591). This small print may represent an early essay in the circus theme explored later in Nouveau Cirque (TF 1992.95, CR 1594), one of the artist's largest monotypes. The two scenes appear to represent a Parisian circus, as they show French flags and the high walls of typical French indoor arenas, yet the 1895 date suggests that Prendergast created Circus Scene with Horse after his return to Boston.
The circus monotypes showcase Prendergast's characteristic combination of a recognizable scene with a decorative surface alive with movement and delicate color. None of these works were ever exhibited or sold during the artist's lifetime. For more information, see Maurice Brazil Prendergast, Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné (1990), to which the CR numbers for the monotypes noted above refer.
Circus Scene with Horse is one of twelve extant monotypes dated 1895, the largest group of dated colored prints. The artist pulled a second impression of this monotype that bears the same title (Williams College Museum of Art, CR 1591). This small print may represent an early essay in the circus theme explored later in Nouveau Cirque (TF 1992.95, CR 1594), one of the artist's largest monotypes. The two scenes appear to represent a Parisian circus, as they show French flags and the high walls of typical French indoor arenas, yet the 1895 date suggests that Prendergast created Circus Scene with Horse after his return to Boston.
The circus monotypes showcase Prendergast's characteristic combination of a recognizable scene with a decorative surface alive with movement and delicate color. None of these works were ever exhibited or sold during the artist's lifetime. For more information, see Maurice Brazil Prendergast, Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné (1990), to which the CR numbers for the monotypes noted above refer.
Charles Prendergast, 1924 (brother of the artist)
Mrs. Charles Prendergast, 1948 (wife of Charles Prendergast)
Kraushaar Galleries, New York, New York,
Private collection, 1962
Davis Galleries, New York, New York, 1965
Private collection, 1965
Davis & Langdale Company, New York, New York, 1982
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1982
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition History
The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast: A Loan Exhibition, Davis & Long Company, New York, New York, April 4–28, 1979. [exh. cat.]
Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast from the Terra Museum of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venues: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., January 27–April 14, 1985; Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, April 27–June 30, 1985; Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, July 12–September 8, 1985; Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, September 20–November 17, 1985; Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, November 24, 1985–January 19, 1986; Oklahoma Art Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 28–February 24, 1986; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, May 13–June 15, 1986; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, June 23–August 24, 1986; Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama, September 2–October 26, 1986; The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, November 2–30, 1986; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 13, 1986–February 15, 1987; Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, Florida, June 21–July 31, 1987; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, August 8–September 27, 1987; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, October 4–November 5, 1987; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1987–January 7, 1988; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, January 20–March 22, 1988; Carnegie Institute, Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 9–May 29, 1988. [exh. cat.]
The Work of Charles and Maurice Prendergast, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 16–April 21, 1991.
American Treasures: Chase, Whistler and the Prendergasts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 1996–January 5, 1997.
Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 11–October 31, 1997.
Le Temps des loisirs : peintures américaines (At Leisure: American Paintings), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2008.
Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast from the Terra Museum of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venues: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., January 27–April 14, 1985; Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, April 27–June 30, 1985; Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, July 12–September 8, 1985; Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, September 20–November 17, 1985; Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, November 24, 1985–January 19, 1986; Oklahoma Art Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 28–February 24, 1986; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, May 13–June 15, 1986; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, June 23–August 24, 1986; Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama, September 2–October 26, 1986; The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, November 2–30, 1986; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 13, 1986–February 15, 1987; Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, Florida, June 21–July 31, 1987; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, August 8–September 27, 1987; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, October 4–November 5, 1987; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1987–January 7, 1988; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, January 20–March 22, 1988; Carnegie Institute, Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 9–May 29, 1988. [exh. cat.]
The Work of Charles and Maurice Prendergast, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, March 16–April 21, 1991.
American Treasures: Chase, Whistler and the Prendergasts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venues: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 1996–January 5, 1997.
Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 11–October 31, 1997.
Le Temps des loisirs : peintures américaines (At Leisure: American Paintings), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2008.
Langdale, Cecily. The Monotypes of Maurice Prendergast. (exh. cat., Davis & Long Company). New York: Davis & Long Company, 1979. Text pp. 8, 9; ill. no. 36, p. 70 (black & white).
Langdale, Cecily. Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast in the Terra Museum of American Art. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Museum of American Art, 1984. Text pp. 26, 31, 35, 84; ill. no. 19, p. 85 (color).
Clark, Carol, Nancy Mowll Mathews and Gwendolyn Owens. Maurice Brazil Prendergast; Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné. Munich, Germany and Williamstown, Massachusetts: Prestel-Verlag and The President and Trustees of Williams College, 1990. No. 1590, p. 581; ill. no. 1590, p. 581 (black & white).
Reymond, Nathalie. Un regard américain sur Paris. (An American Glance at Paris). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 84; ill. p. 82 (color).
Langdale, Cecily. Monotypes by Maurice Prendergast in the Terra Museum of American Art. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Museum of American Art, 1984. Text pp. 26, 31, 35, 84; ill. no. 19, p. 85 (color).
Clark, Carol, Nancy Mowll Mathews and Gwendolyn Owens. Maurice Brazil Prendergast; Charles Prendergast: A Catalogue Raisonné. Munich, Germany and Williamstown, Massachusetts: Prestel-Verlag and The President and Trustees of Williams College, 1990. No. 1590, p. 581; ill. no. 1590, p. 581 (black & white).
Reymond, Nathalie. Un regard américain sur Paris. (An American Glance at Paris). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 84; ill. p. 82 (color).