Lot 5161: WEISGARD, LEONARD. 1916-2000. "Salvation Army Santa," gouache,

"Salvation Army Santa," gouache, 475 x 338 mm, 1940s, unused cover design for the New Yorker.

Caldecott Medal Winner Leonard Weisgard illustrated over 200 children's books and is perhaps best known for his over two dozen collaborations with Margaret Wise Brown. He was a highly versatile artist who employed a wide variety of mediums in his illustrations. Besides studying dance with Martha Graham, Weisgard designed window displays and sets and costumes for the ballet and contributed to magazines such as The New Yorker, Good Housekeeping and Harper's Bazaar. He also was among the first to recognize Maurice Sendak's abundant gifts as an illustrator.