Ringling Museum - Sarasota
 

The Ringling museum is located on the bay here in Sarasota. It was built by John and Mable Ringling of the circus folk fame. Sarasota was the winter home of the Ringling circus. Mr. Ringling left quite a mark on this city.

This first photo is from the bay looking back through the courtyard to the museum. The next is looking from the back porch west toward Sarasota bay.

Most of the paintings in the museum, with some exceptions, are Italian. This one in particular really got my attention. It's an 8' x 5' pastel on parchment paper under glass of Marie Antoinette by Elizabeth Louis Vigee Le Brun.

This last one, located on the front grounds of the museum, seems perfectly reasonable to me. If your woman is not living up to your expectations, you just take all her clothes off, strap her to the back of a bull, and run her around the property. After a few laps you could ask if she would like to reevaluate. I suppose this would work just as well if you were having trouble with your bull.

Well, they didn't show in the sequence I expected but I think you can figure it out.

Broad scope
 

I can also report that I have seen the paintings of our members on the walls of galleries here in Sarasota.

Bill Whitaker - I can report that your painting "Cove" 30x40 looks great, and is prominently displayed at the Galleria Silecchia.

Michele Rushworth - Also displaying her artwork way out of her zip code at the Saraphina gallery at Towles Court.

And a few more images of the paintings within the Ringling museum.

#1 Diego Velazquez, #2 Giovanni Pellegrini, #3 Jean Raoux, #4 Rosa Bonheur

Thanks for posting these Mike - I love seeing gallery shots.

Hope you are enjoying and settling in to your new surroundings!

It was interesting to see that Velazquez painting of King Philip of Spain. A head and shoulders of that same pose is currently on display in the Seattle Art Museum.

Velazquez painted a great many portraits of King Philip, all of which have virtually the same face and lighting. Apparently the one now hanging in Seattle is the only one the king actually sat for.

Velazquez kept the head and shoulders portrait which he did from life in his own studio and used it as reference for all the other King Philip portraits he painted later, including the one now in Sarasota.

Guess that's one way to get things done, in the era way before Nikon D70's!

Frankly, my impression of that painting was WOW, except for the head, which seemed like it belonged somewhere else. Not unlike Marie Antoinette, who's head actually ended up somewhere else.

After reading your explanation, I can more understand my reaction.

Here are a few more images, I don't recall the author of the last image.

Mike, isn't the last word in this sentence supposed to be 'man'?

That's a wonderful museum. I like the wall colors, too.

I'm happy that you've moved to such a beautiful spot, despite all the hurricane action.

Each being full of the other, neither would stand for it.

Wm. S.
LIX

1. If there be nothing new, but that which is
2. Hath been before, how are our brains beguil'd,
3. Which labouring for invention bear amiss
4. The second burthen of a former child.
5. Oh that record could with a backward look,
6. Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
7. Show me your image in some antique book,
8. Since mind at first in character was done,
9. That I might see what the old world could say
10. To this composed wonder of your frame;
11. Whether we are mended, or where better they,
12. Or whether revolution be the same.
13. Oh sure I am the wits of former days,
14. To subjects worse have given admiring praise.

Fond Memories
 

Hi Mike -

I went to school at Ringling School of Art years ago, and used to ride my bike down to look at the paintings.

They have recently renovated, put new frames on some paintings and redone wall colors so the works really shine now.

Thanks for sharing what is a gem of a museum.

Anybody visiting Florida should really check out both this museum and the Appleton in Ocala Florida (north part of state).

Julie,

It is a fine museum and would be worth the visit if it had no paintings at all.

When I first arrived I stayed in a motel a couple of blocks from the Ringling school of art. I took some time and walked through the campus and it seems to be flourishing today, many students scurrying around with portfolios under their arms. I asked at the registrars office if they had a course on portraiture, and they said that it was only part of a much broader curriculum. I did, however, see several examples of quality portraiture posted on the wall.

I've noticed in the local paper recently that the Sarasota high school, a historic building, will be renovated under the auspices of the Ringling foundation, and turned into a museum for modern art.

I caught these statues gathering in the back, trying to unionize no doubt (as you can see, I'm running out of images).

Julie and Mike, after I finished my BFA, I decided to go for an Advertising/graphics concentration and it was between Ringling and the Art Institiute of Fort Lauderdale. Well being in my early twenties, hummmm ... Lauderdale? Sarasota? Yes I went to the Lauderdale.

I had no idea they had such a lovely place, wow!

Mike if you like Rosa Bonheur's, I have just fallen in love with Anton Mauve. My favorite (of what I have seen) is in our Taft Museum, Cincinnati:

Statue graveyard?
 

Hi Mike -

Funny! I don't remember seeing these when I was there two summers ago. I do recall that they used to have a statue graveyard in a back area. It was weird seeing arms, legs, torsoes etc of statuary laying around in a pile.

Have you visited the Cah D'ZHan (Ringling mansion)? There's a wonderful over-lifesize full-length figurative by Robert Henri in (I think )the dining room - called "Salome". Very dramatic and beautifully done.

Sarasota
 

Elizabeth,

Sarasota was and is known for its rich retiree population. This had its advantages, like the time our student president wangled a presentation from Red Skelton when he came down for a show (he also liked to paint, hence the acceptance of the invitation).

Plus I have fond memories of visiting the home and studio of a prominent illustrator/painter named Thornton Utz, who was very encouraging to us young artists. I remember how impressed I was with the beauty of some portraits he had done.

Another great memory is "touring" the home of Mabel Ringling before it was renovated. Actually, it was locked but a group of fellow artists and I got to look around the grounds and drew in the courtyard that still had its Italian tile intact.

Sarasota has had renovations in the last few decades, which probably makes it even more beautiful. I know it certainly has made a difference with the Ringling Museum. As a student, I recall it had a certain shabbiness that is missing now.

Actually, I think it was a disciplinary issue, cavorting amongst themselves during museum hours. All this, while that poor bull suffered.

Suddenly I feel an urge to go out and get into trouble.

Under circumstances I cannot reveal without killing myself, I drove past the Ringling site on a frenzied foray to Sarasota (Clearwater, the actual destination). I could not, at the time, imagine that it was "serious," but then, neither was I, back then. I regret my youthful indiscretion. Perhaps I should use atonement as an excuse to get back to the Sunshine State's Gulf coast. There aren't any hurricanes on the way, are there?

As I began my journey toward Florida, Hrrrricane Agripina I think it was, approached the eastern coast of Florida. Each night in the motel I would watch as it made it's way across the state and headed north. It seemed obvious that we were going to meet one another in the northern part of the state.

I made my way south from Memphis to Biloxi where I spent an extra night trying to allow the beast time enough to pass (The fact that there was a hookers' convention going on at the time had no effect on my decision. Although, It looks like I'll be painting fishnet stockings and spiky heeled shoes long into the future).

The next night, as I approached my turn to head south into Florida, it became apparent that I should have waited another day. I was one of the few vehicles on I-10 being blown left and right. I pulled into a small town and got the last room at the inn. It blew all night, and rained hard until noon the next day as I drove south.

And so, to answer your question Steven, yes, there will be no more hrrrricanes in Florida, ever. During that storm the night before, I made a pact with that higher authority, that if he would get me through that night, and promise never to allow another hrrrricane to hit Florida, I would pass on the next three hookers' conventions I encountered. He/She also promised to make this burning sensation stop.

All things considered I think I got the best of the deal. I haven't always.

I would be remiss not to applaud your sacrifice in being willing to compassionately witness their stories.

Word to the wise: there's no real sand in Key West -- it's all trucked in and I'm sure the hrrrikns took most of it out. But go see the six-toed cats at the Hemingway House anyway, and always stand with your back to a wall.

...and while in Key West go see the street performers on Mallory Pier at sunset. Back in my wild youth, I was one of them.

I saw an ad the other day about a high speed boat transport from Fort Myers to Key West. They claimed a 3 1/2 hour trip, instead of a 15 hour drive.

In addition to that, there is a dinner train from here to Fort Myers. I may have to make this journey some day.

Mike such adult luxury! You must go by bus from Miami... then you can get over to Coconut Grove and also check out Vizcaya.

VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS

This is an Italian Renaissance-style villa and formal gardens built in 1916 as the winter residence of industrialist James Deering. The house has 34 rooms of 15th through 19th-century antique furnishings and decorative arts. The grounds include over 10 acres of formal gardens and fountains. Vizcaya is one of only two officially designated National Historic Landmarks in Miami-Dade County. Open to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The house remains open until 5:00 p.m. and the gardens remain open until 5:30 p.m. The ticket booth closes at 4:30 p.m. Guided tours are often available. Group tours may be arranged by appointment. Wheel chair accessible first floor, complete info at the web site.

Ah yes, Vizcaya..... I spent many an hour sketching and painting there. So did Sargent. Too bad none of his brilliance rubbed off on me while I was there!

If I understand you correctly, I'm to forgo the dinner on the train, the scenic 3 1/2 hour boat ride, and make a 15 hour trip by bus.

Do you think I could split this into two trips?