Circus Act Collection

Backyard carnival, 1800s
Children putting on a circus in the backyarrd, 1800s. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a 19th-century illustration

Detail of a leaf of a Byzantine ivory diptych showing men and bears at the circus
Detail of a leaf of a Byzantine ivory diptych from Constantinople, showing men and bears at the circus, watched by the court. From the Heritage Museum of St Petersburgs collection

L Acrobate ou La Roue, 1927. Creator: Valadon, Suzanne (1865-1938)
L Acrobate ou La Roue, 1927. Found in the Collection of Collection de David E. Weisman et Jacqueline E. Michel

Papa Chrysantheme at the New Circus. Artist: Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri, de (1864-1901)
Papa Chrysantheme at the New Circus. Found in the collection of Musee d Orsay, Paris

Circus clown painting his face in his tent before a show, 1800s
NWI4759656 Circus clown painting his face in his tent before a show, 1800s.; (add.info.: Circus clown painting his face in his tent before a show, 1800s.); Photo © North Wind Pictures

Acrobat performance of the American Brothers and Levater Lee Family, 1850s
NWI4759646 Acrobat performance of the American Brothers and Levater Lee Family, 1850s.; (add.info.: Acrobat performance of the American Brothers and Levater Lee Family)

Performing bear, Russia - Russian villagers entertained by a performing bear, 1800s
NWI4956437 Performing bear, Russia - Russian villagers entertained by a performing bear, 1800s.; (add.info.: Performing bear, Russia - Russian villagers entertained by a performing bear)

Engraving depicting The Man Bombshell': this act gave the impression that the acrobat was fired from a cannon by
5308574 Engraving depicting The Man Bombshell': this act gave the impression that the acrobat was fired from a cannon by the force of an explosion; (add.info)

Balancing performer, 1860s - Signor Ethardo's balancing act at the Crystal Palace, London, 1860s
NWI4759588 Balancing performer, 1860s - Signor Ethardo's balancing act at the Crystal Palace, London, 1860s.; (add.info.: Balancing performer)

Danses de la haute école - Poses d'une école... 1853. Creator: Honore Daumier
Danses de la haute ecole - Poses d'une ecole... 1853. Danses de la haute ecole. Poses d'une ecole encore plus elevee. (High school dances. Poses from an even higher school)

Farina, with a man on his back, crossing the Niagara on a tightrope... August 29, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Farina [sic], with a man on his back, crossing the Niagara on a tightrope - from a sketch taken by the late master H. Ingram, from Clifton House balcony, August 29, 1860....Mr

The Paris Hippodrome: seventeen horses driven by M. Marin, 1860. Creator: Harrison Weir
The Paris Hippodrome: seventeen horses driven by M. Marin, 1860. After numerous attempts M. Marin has just succeeded in the accomplishment of this dangerous exercise by means of a simplification in

Circus, New York, [1935]. Creator: Unknown
Circus, New York, [1935]. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

Circus, New York, [1935]. Creator: Unknown
Circus, New York, [1935]. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

Circus, New York, [1935]. Creator: Unknown
Circus, New York, [1935]. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

Le Bate, in or after 1756. Creator: Charles-Germain de Saint-Aubin
Le Bate, in or after 1756

"A Dancing Lesson" after C. Maciver Greirson, 1890. Creator: Charles MacIver Grierson
"A Dancing Lesson" after C. Maciver Greirson, 1890. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 42. July to December, 1890

Toy Bank, c. 1937. Creator: Lew Tower
Toy Bank, c. 1937

Metal Toy Bank: Boy on Bar, c. 1937. Creator: Lew Tower
Metal Toy Bank: Boy on Bar, c. 1937

Grimaces et misère - Les Saltimbanques, 1888. Creator: Fernand Pelez
Grimaces et misere - Les Saltimbanques, 1888

Industrie, Patience, Intelligence - birds trained by Emilie Vandermeersch, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Industrie, Patience, Intelligence - birds trained by Emilie Vandermeersch, 1850. This young lady...has applied herself from an early age to the training of birds...she exercises over them an

Circus Game, n.d. Creator: Manuel Manilla
Circus Game, n.d

A drama in the tiger cage, 1931. Creator: Unknown
A drama in the tiger cage, 1931. Un Drame Dans La Cage Aux Tigres. A circus act goes wrong as tigers attack the tiger-tamer. Front cover of " Le Petit Journal Illustre"

The Circus (Le Cirque), 1890-91. Artist: Georges-Pierre Seurat
The Circus (Le Cirque), 1890-91. Painting housed in Musee d Orsay, Paris. From The Studio Volume 127. [The Offices of the Studio, London & New York, 1944]

The Circus at Covent Garden Theatre with the Lion going through his performance, 1890. Creator: Unknown
The Circus at Covent Garden Theatre with the Lion going through his performance, 1890

Toy Bank, c. 1939. Creator: Pearl Torell
Toy Bank, c. 1939

Monkey Bank, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Ernest A Towers Jr
Monkey Bank, 1935/1942

Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando), 1887 / 88. Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando), 1887/88

Au Cirque: Ecuyere, 1888. Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Au Cirque: Ecuyere, 1888

Tight-Rope Walker, c. 1885. Creator: Jean Louis Forain
Tight-Rope Walker, c. 1885

Gen. Tom Thumb and wife, Com. Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren, pub
AQS331963 Gen. Tom Thumb and wife, Com. Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren, pub. by Currier & Ives, 1863 (litho) by American School, (19th century); American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts

Unicycle Rider, 1911 (oil on canvas)
CH5248 Unicycle Rider, 1911 (oil on canvas) by Kirchner, Ernst Ludwig (1880-1938); 80x90 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; German, out of copyright

Forepaugh & Sells Brothers great shows consolidated, 1899 (chromolithograph)
5854143 Forepaugh & Sells Brothers great shows consolidated, 1899 (chromolithograph) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Poster advertising the Sells-Floto Circus, 1920 (colour litho)
PNP314795 Poster advertising the Sells-Floto Circus, 1920 (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The original General Tom Thumb: the smallest man alive, pub
AQS331962 The original General Tom Thumb: the smallest man alive, pub. by Currier & Ives, 1860 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); American Antiquarian Society, Worcester

Poster advertising Gargantua the Great at the Ringling Bros
PNP312794 Poster advertising Gargantua the Great at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows (colour litho) by American School

Poster advertising Singers Midgets, c. 1915 (colour litho)
PNP312792 Poster advertising Singers Midgets, c.1915 (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Poster advertising the Circus Henry, 1908 (colour litho)
PNP312787 Poster advertising the Circus Henry, 1908 (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: circus founded in 1880s; ); Peter Newark Pictures; German

Poster advertising the Dainty Miss Leitzel at the Ringling Bros
PNP312796 Poster advertising the Dainty Miss Leitzel at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, c.1915 (colour litho) by American School

Poster advertising the Great Wallendas at the Ringling Bros
PNP312795 Poster advertising the Great Wallendas at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (colour litho) by American School

Lion Tamer, c. 1880 (colour litho)
PNP312789 Lion Tamer, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Historical Pictures; English, out of copyright

Nala Damajoute: Snake Charmer, 1883 (woodcut)
3081870 Nala Damajoute: Snake Charmer, 1883 (woodcut) by Forepaugh, Adam (1831-90); 90.2x106.7 cm; Shelburne Museum, Vermont

The Circus, 1905. Creator: Harry Cogswell Rubincam
The Circus, 1905

Footit and Chocolat (Footit et Chocolat) [left recto], 1895. Rafael Padilla and George Foottit

Plate B from the Disparates : Punctual Folly, ca. 1816-23 (published before 1877)
Plate B from the Disparates :Punctual Folly, ca. 1816-23 (published before 1877)

Grands Sauteurs!, from La Caricature, 1823-60. Creator: Alexandre Gabriel Decamps
Grands Sauteurs!, from La Caricature, 1823-60

Carters Tiger Feat, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Carters Tiger Feat, 1844. Circus act at Astleys Amphitheatre in London: Mr. Batty, the enterprising proprietor of this popular establishment, has recently added to its attractions

Carters Lion Chariot Feat, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Carters Lion Chariot Feat, 1844. Circus act at Astleys Amphitheatre in London: Mr. Batty, the enterprising proprietor of this popular establishment, has recently added to its attractions

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Step right up and witness the enchanting world of circus acts. From the humble beginnings of backyard carnivals in the 1800s to the grand spectacles that captivated audiences throughout history, these captivating performances have always been a source of awe and wonder. Imagine yourself transported back in time as you gaze upon a Byzantine ivory diptych, its intricate details showcasing men fearlessly taming bears at the ancient circus. Fast forward to 1927, where Suzanne Valadon's masterpiece "L'Acrobate ou La Roue" captures the grace and skill of an acrobat suspended mid-air, defying gravity with every twist and turn. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec takes us on a journey through time with his vivid depictions of Papa Chrysantheme at the New Circus. The vibrant colors bring to life this mesmerizing performer who effortlessly commands attention under the big top. In contrast, an unknown artist presents us with a dramatic scene unfolding within a tiger cage in 1931 - danger lurking just inches away from fearless performers. Georges-Pierre Seurat's masterpiece "The Circus" transports us to Covent Garden Theatre in 1890-91. As we watch lions perform their tricks, we can almost hear the roar of applause reverberating through time. Pearl Torell's Toy Bank from 1939 reminds us that even children were enamored by circus acts - their innocent eyes filled with joy as they dropped coins into this whimsical creation. Ernest A Towers Jr adds another delightful touch with his Monkey Bank from 1935/1942 - mischievous monkeys inviting passersby to join them on their playful escapades. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec once again graces our presence with his masterful portrayal of Equestrienne (At Cirque Fernando) in 1887/88 – capturing both elegance and strength as she gracefully rides her horse. And who could forget the daring tightrope walkers.