Ringling Museum

 Today was the first day of our 2011 spring break trip. We went to Sarasota, Florida to see the John and Mable Ringling Museum. I learned alot about not judging a book by its cover. John Ringling, one of the five Ringling Brothers of circus fame, and his wife, Mable, were fine art lovers and amassed an unbelievable collection of Baroque art. Circus people and art collectors...truly unexpected.

The kids above the Howard Bros. Circus Model in the circus museum. This intricate model took Howard Tibbals 50 years to build and if you could see the detail of every aspect of a circus, under the big top and behind the scenes, you would believe it.

On property that was once theirs and which John bequeathed to the State of Florida upon his death, there is a circus museum, a fine arts museum and their opulent winter home, Ca' d'Zan (meaning House of John in Venetian dialect) on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Mable Ringling loved roses and she had an beautiful rose garden on the property which was in full bloom. Such amazing colors! Funniest part of the day: Lizzie's insistence that the male nude sculptures were "inappropriate". (I have to admit, that is not my cup of tea either, sweetie.)


The kids in front of one of many Banyon trees on the grounds. Those are the trees roots running down from branches. Truly interesting looking!



Labels: ringling

posted by Terri Milstead @ 8:54 PM Comments: 0