Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1963)

The present work illustrates the moment Madeline answers the door on Christmas night in the story Madeline's Christmas. Anticipating the visitor to be Santa Claus, Madeline is surprised to instead meet a rug merchant. Bemelmans writes, "A rug merchant was at the door. He had twelve rugs, he had no more." Madeline buys the rugs for her schoolmates to keep warm on the cold night, and when the merchant turns out to be a magician capable of making the rugs fly, the children are able to fly home and surprise their families on Christmas morning.