The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 63Home Decorating
Circus -owner's museum enthralling
By Patti Robertson
Finally ... 1 have achieved one of
my long term ambitions which was to
tour the Ringling Museum in
Sarasota. Florida.
The Ringling Brothers, from
Wisconsin, were the undisputed kings
of the circus world. The main interest
of my passion
is John
Ringling. Like
each of the
seven brothers
John worked
diligently at the
management of
the circus, but
each developed
other interests
and
investments
which turned
into great
prosperity,
enabling each
to live according to their individual
fancies.
John fancied the arts and during
the 1920s in the brief span of seven
years he and his wife Mabel acquired
a magnificent collection of thousands
of art objects including ceramics,
antique jewellery, sculptures, two
complete historic rooms, architectural
elements and collectibles plus antique
tapestries and 624 paintings. On
John's talent scouting trips to Europe
he also visited all the great museums
and galleries. Although John had
councillors and advisors, he himself
had a wonderful eye for quality
pieces. All of this amassed collection
of artwork and treasures is housed in
the John and Mabel Ringling
Museum of Art which formally
opened to the public in 1931. Today
you and I can visit and tour this
magnificent building for a mere $9
American.
One enters into the most
impressive vaulted central lobby
which is the Zink between the north
and south gallery wings. The gallery
wings enclose a formal courtyard and
are connected at the rear by a bridge
on which stands a 16 -foot bronze cast
statue of Michelangelo's David. All
told there are 21 galleries within the
wings and the collectibles displayed
represent 500 years of artwork,
primarily the periods between 1550
and 1750 which is notable for the
brilliant and colourful compositions.
Ward and I signed up for the
guided tour, but we were so
enthralled by all that we saw that we
soon fell behind. Three tour guides
later we still were not even halfway
through and could not drag ourselves
away from the likes of the 20' x 30'
Reuben's "Triumph of the Eucharist"
or Diego Vlazguez's "Phillip IV of
Spain", or Nicholas Poussin's "Holy
Family". It was magnificent to view
so many noted works up close and
personal! What a remarkable way to
add to your appreciation of art. And
just about when we were to the
bursting we arrived at the formal
courtyard with sun -warmed marble
floors, vaulted loggias (open sided
porches) which run the length of the
gallery wings, two large fountains
which are positioned into the upper
levels of the stepped gardens, along
with the bronzed chariot pulled by
prancing horses positioned amongst
tlaming bouginvillias planted in 28
massive Italian oil jars that have been
arranged repetitiously amongst the
columns and arches.
I doffed my sandals and strolled
on the warm marble floors ... I mean,
I'd never had this opportunity before
and I wasn't passing up this chance to
enjoy the luxury. Ward used this
classic vantage to capture some
terrific photographic memories. Do
you know I got several ideas for my
own gardens just by looking at what
had been achieved here. Part of all
design secrets is knowing when you
are amongst greatness on any scale
and reusing what is working on our
own smaller residential situations.
Once satiated, Ward and I
continued our own leisurely -paced
personal tour, only to discover yet
more intriguing treasures. I was
astounded by the quality and mastery
of the faux finish table tops. Those of
us who have tried our hand at
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SEPTEMBER 2000 59