Image of minstrel musicians in blackface dressed in formal suits and sitting with their musical instruments on a curtained stage; vignette of a head-and-shoulders portrait of show proprietor Z. W. Sprague at top centered with four corner vignettes of minstrel performers consisting of a man gesturing at top left, a man dancing at top right, a man in a hobo costume holding an umbrella and jumping at bottom right, and two men in hobo costumes playing a banjo and tambourine at bottom left. Probable date range based on show history; Sprague was the sole proprietor of the show beginning in 1878 and he died in 1883. "L?"--text, illegible artist's signature, lower right of image. "Chicago Lith. Co / 85 5th Ave."--text, bottom margin centered.
Type
image
Extent
1 lithograph : uncolored ; overall 48.9 x 64.14 cm (19 1/4 x 25 1/4 in.)
Sprague, Z. W., -1883--Portraits African Americans--Performances & portrayals African Americans--Pictorial works Bands (Music)--Pictorial works Blackface entertainers--Pictorial works Minstrel shows Musical instruments--Pictorial works Theatrical producers and directors--Portraits Sprague’s Original Georgia Minstrels Lithographs--Color--1875-1900. (gmgpc) Theatrical posters--American. (gmgpc)
Source
Jay T. Last Collection Entertainment Large Size Minstrel The Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, Huntington Digital Library
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