These sketches are connected with one of Murray's most important pictures, The Music Party, until recently in the Palace Theatre, London. The picture was exhibited at the New Gallery in 1890 and bought by the impressario Richard D'Oyly Carte to form part of the decoration of the theatre, which he built and opened in January 1891 as a home for English grand opera. Other sketches for the pciture are in the Art Museum at Princeton, New Jersey