I took a drive over to Sarasota today to visit The Ringling Museum, a unique facility; half world-class fine arts museum and half theatrical memorabilia exhibition dedicated to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
The place is vast, a campus really with several buildings housing paintings, sculptures and other fine arts from a range of eras such as ancient Mediterranean Crete, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Italian, French and Flemish works, Classical Era Asian and Modern pieces. The vast majority seems to be Renaissance Italian and Baroque Flemish paintings, with a great many by Peter Paul Rubens and his studio.
I chose to only take two pictures of the fine arts exhibits of the museum since there are so many viewable online already, but the above two stood out especially for me. A Winged Victory bronze statuette strikingly presented here. I've got to say, this museum does a fine job of placing pieces in the best light and most complimentary location in a room. Simply striking, isn't it? And the central gardens with immaculately manicured landscaping and their signature David standing over there amidst the balustrade in front of the palms, overlooking the fountain, perhaps contemplating who among us he shall sling his stone toward? I'm no Goliath, buddy.
But here's where my picture taking went wild. The circus stuff! Oh this place is fantastic! You know, I've only ever been to the circus once! When I was little, maybe 7 or 8. I think my parents brought us, if you can believe it? Ringing Brothers of course!
Step right up folks and take a gander. I want to keep them down in size so click for larger view:
Above was one of the interesting costumes that performers wore and there were other interesting things in this gallery as well, but my attention was really drawn to the massive exhibit showcased in the many photos below. The Tibbals Learning Center housed, among other items, a miniature circus, complete, and I do mean complete, with everything a circa 1st-third of the 20th century circus would have... all in tiny scale. I mean, look at this!
Crafted over something like 50 years by one man Howard Tibbals, with his own funds and donated to the Ringling. A pre-exhibit video presentation explains it all. Amazing!
Below is what was labeled as Mr. Tibbal's workshop. Now is this like Julia Child's kitchen in the Smithsonian and just reassembled here, or did he really work here for people to see? I forgot to ask even though I did talk with a couple lady artisans who were near the train exhibit about Tibbals and his creations. Tibbals died four years ago.
Second floor top down view of the whole diorama.
Then there's a whole OTHER building dedicated to more circus shit! Damn! Cannon car. How did they shoot dudes out of those cannon?
Side show signage!
Here's a whole freakin' real, full-sized vintage train. Couldn't go in, but could go right up to it and poke yer head in. Oh, and it's inside! Yes, a train in the building.
