We hear a lot of people complain about the culture--or lack of--in Florida. A lot of people who lived in or near large, northern cities for the majority of their lives feel that Florida doesn't offer the same kind of quality museums as say Chicago, New York or even Detroit. And it's not only the transplants who don't know beans about all the cultural activities our state (and Saratosta in particular) has to offer. When we told a friend--and longtime Citrus County resident--we were heading down to do a piece on the Ringling Museum, he asked what the big deal was. What is it? Pictures of clowns?
True, the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum has an excellent miniature circus exhibit, and a lot of other great memorabilia from one of the greatest American showman and business tycoon's personal collection, but there is a whole lot more!
John and Mable Ringling spent their winters down in Sarasota. Eventually, they brought the circus down every winter to escape the harsh northern climate. After engaging in extensive real estate deals, Ringling built his mansion, Ca'd'Zan, and later, in 1927, the museum. Their expansive estate overlooking the gulf turned out to be a perfect site for the now world famous art museum.
The Ringlings collected a vast amount of works from many masters who primarily worked from 1500 to about 1750. Their collection of Baroque masterworks is one of the foremost in the entire world! And their original collection of about 700 pieces of art has blossomed into over 10,000 grand works of art including works by such masters as: Reubens, Van Dyck, Velazques, Hals, Poussin, Veronese and Tiepolo.
The museum itself is also a work of art. Built by John H. Phillips, it incorporates many of the architectural elements that the Ringlings brought back from Europe, though it is predominantly Italianate. The arcaded courtyard of the museum, which allows access to the various galleries, is a beautiful walk-through with statuary, shrubbery and a variety of flowers--a beautiful American version of a classic European garden.
The galleries are also beautiful; the high ceilings and rich hardwood floors immediately puts one into the right frame of mind for viewing the awesome collection.
The estate also features the Asolo Theater, which is the only authentic 18th-century-style Italian theater in the United States. The Rococo styled, 300 seat theater is ornamented in dazzling pastel and gold hues. Works of art grace the second tier boxes, and a portrait of Queen Catherine of Carnaro sits above the royal box. The theater was originally erected in the hall of the castle in Asolo, Italy, but was dismantled piece by piece and put into storage. A. Everett Austin, the first director of the museum, purchased the theater in 1950 and had it brought to Sarasota.
A visit to the museum is not complete unless you also tour the Ringling's mansion which is a great contribution to the rich and famous palatial homes of the 1920's.
We strongly recommend that anyone interested in art and cultural enrichment make the trip over to Sarasota to see the Museum and grounds--it's well worth the drive, and makes for a great day!