Circus Performance Collection (#3)

A Marvel of Training (engraving)
8672755 A Marvel of Training (engraving) by German School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Marvel of Training. The ibex as an acrobat)

The sad end of Harlequin the painter (colour litho)
8672607 The sad end of Harlequin the painter (colour litho) by Bull, Rene (1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: The sad end of Harlequin the painter)

Girls dancing with boys at a fancy dress party (colour litho)
8635210 Girls dancing with boys at a fancy dress party (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girls dancing with boys at a fancy dress party)

A Suggestion! The Leviathan, What to do with her now you've got her off, 1858 (hand coloured litho on paper)
7485263 A Suggestion! The Leviathan, What to do with her now you've got her off, 1858 (hand coloured litho on paper) by Phillips, Watts (1825-1874) ; 25x40 cm; Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

Engraving depicting a tightrope walker performing in Vauxhall Gardens, London, 19th century
5308953 Engraving depicting a tightrope walker performing in Vauxhall Gardens, London, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a tightrope walker performing in Vauxhall Gardens, London)

Engraving depicting the Scottish equilibrist Duncan MacDonald, 18th century
5308952 Engraving depicting the Scottish equilibrist Duncan MacDonald, 18th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Scottish equilibrist Duncan MacDonald)

Circus Artist on horse, ca 1850 (illustration)
7422876 Circus Artist on horse, ca 1850 (illustration); (add.info.: Art. Entertainment. Circus. Artist on horse. Imagery in silhouette, France, ca 1850.); © Archives Charmet

Actor Bastien plays a polish scytheman, ca 1830-40 (illustration)
7422823 Actor Bastien plays a polish scytheman, ca 1830-40 (illustration); (add.info.: History. Poland. Actor Bastien plays a polish scytheman (polish independence warriors), holding the polish flag

American daily life: children playing circus in the back yard, with a boy on a stage presenting the numbers of
NWI4882371 American daily life: children playing circus in the back yard, with a boy on a stage presenting the numbers of the show

Capital letters Plate in "Picturesque alphabet or New informative and picturesque alphabet", 1892 (engraving)
DUV4220196 Capital letters Plate in "Picturesque alphabet or New informative and picturesque alphabet", 1892 (engraving); 27x17.5 cm; (add.info)

Manifesto of the brothers Artell, circus acrobats
3563343 Manifesto of the brothers Artell, circus acrobats; (add.info.: Great Britain 1875-1880 Date of Artwork: 1875-1890 Photographer: Seward William); Alinari Archives, Florence

Food and Beverage. Muscle Man. Armour extract of meat. Poster, France, c.1890 (poster)
3434467 Food and Beverage. Muscle Man. Armour extract of meat. Poster, France, c.1890 (poster); (add.info.: Coll. Part. Food and Beverage. Muscle Man. Armour extract of meat)

Art. Entertainment. Clowns. Jacquot Shoe Polish. Poster by Lefevre, France, 1894. (poster)
3434460 Art. Entertainment. Clowns. Jacquot Shoe Polish. Poster by Lefevre, France, 1894. (poster); (add.info.: Art. Spectacle. Coll. Part. Art. Entertainment. Clowns. Jacquot Shoe Polish)

Letter G: Guignol (puppet), beg 20th century (chromolithograph)
DUV4204084 Letter G: Guignol (puppet), beg 20th century (chromolithograph); 25x17.5 cm; (add.info.: Drolatic album (abecedary). Series number 4 in Albums-chromo on canvas

Letter X, Y and Z: xylophone and eyes then zouave, zebra, c.1920 (print)
DUV4202602 Letter X, Y and Z: xylophone and eyes then zouave, zebra, c.1920 (print); 16x24.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: ABC de Guignol by Griff (French illustrator)

Letter J, K and L (juggling, judge and kepi then moon, rabbit, lamp, spear), c.1920 (print)
DUV4202560 Letter J, K and L (juggling, judge and kepi then moon, rabbit, lamp, spear), c.1920 (print); 16x24.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: ABC de Guignol by Griff (French illustrator)

The New Evangelical Family Bible, 1850
3330642 The New Evangelical Family Bible, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving from the New Evangelical Family Bible, depicting the fighting of wild beasts in the circus at Ephesus)

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)

French circus in the grounds of Shokonsha shrine (Yasukuni) Tokyo, with acrobats
528454 French circus in the grounds of Shokonsha shrine (Yasukuni) Tokyo, with acrobats, male and female stunt riders and trapeze artists, 1871. Entertainment; Universal History Archive/UIG

Roman Secular Buildings, Theatres, Palaces, Tombs, etc (engraving)
8644773 Roman Secular Buildings, Theatres, Palaces, Tombs, etc (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Roman Secular Buildings, Theatres, Palaces, Tombs, etc)

Jackal, Jackdaw, Jacket, Jack-plane, Jack-screw, Javelin, Jews-harp, Juggler, Kennel, Kettle, Key-hole
8650058 Jackal, Jackdaw, Jacket, Jack-plane, Jack-screw, Javelin, Jews-harp, Juggler, Kennel, Kettle, Key-hole, Key-stone (engraving) by German School

Chimney, Chisel, Church-yard, Cigar, Circus, City, Civet, Clevis, Clock-work, Closet, Clothier, Coachman (engraving)
8651542 Chimney, Chisel, Church-yard, Cigar, Circus, City, Civet, Clevis, Clock-work, Closet, Clothier, Coachman (engraving) by German School

Men dressed as clowns (b/w photo)
8656396 Men dressed as clowns (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Men dressed as clowns. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

And I pray you my masters be merry (colour litho)
8656521 And I pray you my masters be merry (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "And I pray you my masters be merry." A jester and a cat)

Advertising card for Tony Denier and his Great Humpty Dumpty Troupe (chromolitho)
8677567 Advertising card for Tony Denier and his Great Humpty Dumpty Troupe (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Blondin at the Crystal Palace (engraving)
8677171 Blondin at the Crystal Palace (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Blondin at the Crystal Palace)

Primeval scenes: Catching Wild Horses (litho)
8673709 Primeval scenes: Catching Wild Horses (litho) by Hassall, John (1868-1948) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Catching Wild Horses)

The sad end of Harlequin the painter (colour litho)
8672562 The sad end of Harlequin the painter (colour litho) by Bull, Rene (1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: The sad end of Harlequin the painter)

Patricia Bourne, woman lion tamer (b/w photo)
8664262 Patricia Bourne, woman lion tamer (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The lady of lions. Patricia Bourne, woman lion tamer)

Bear tamer, Germany, c. 1900 (chromo)
1790205 Bear tamer, Germany, c. 1900 (chromo); (add.info.: bear tamer in a village in Germany late 19th century early 20th century); Photo © CCI

Acrobats in ancient Rome
3788504 Acrobats in ancient Rome; (add.info.: Acrobats in ancient Rome - engraving. Published 1885. French: Equilibristes dans l'antiquite')

Indian street performer
3788843 Indian street performer; (add.info.: Indian street performer. Photograph taken early 20th century. Caption reads: Beggar Contortionist'. British postcard.); Lebrecht History

Fierce Fight Between A Tiger And A Lion In Florence (Colour Litho)
2798709 Fierce Fight Between A Tiger And A Lion In Florence (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fierce Fight Between A Tiger And A Lion In Florence)

E for Escuyer du Roi et Espagnole - F for Folie et Farfadet - G for Gypsy and Greek Warrior, around 1920 (print)
8600170 E for Escuyer du Roi et Espagnole - F for Folie et Farfadet - G for Gypsy and Greek Warrior, around 1920 (print) by French School

O Katharina!, 1905 (print)
3673918 O Katharina!, 1905 (print) by Leo Feist, Inc. (1897-1934); Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois, USA; (add.info.: James Francis Driscoll collection of historical American sheet music)

F for Folie et Farfadet - G for Gypsy and Greek Warrior, around 1920 (print)
8600172 F for Folie et Farfadet - G for Gypsy and Greek Warrior, around 1920 (print) by French School, (20th century); 31x24 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

C for Clown and Columbine - D for Dancer and Dragon, around 1920 (print)
8600166 C for Clown and Columbine - D for Dancer and Dragon, around 1920 (print) by French School, (20th century); 31x24 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: in "Alphabet du bal costume")

Clownland Waltz, 1900-1930 (print)
3673956 Clownland Waltz, 1900-1930 (print) by Jerome H. Remick & Co. (early 20th century); Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois

C for Clown and Columbine, ca. 1920 (print)
8600167 C for Clown and Columbine, ca. 1920 (print) by French School, (20th century); 31x24 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: in "Alphabet du bal costume", Hachette, publisher, Paris)

Le Dressage Man training (breaking) a horse, 19th century Watercolour
542668 Le Dressage Man training (breaking) a horse, 19th century Watercolour. by Gericault, Theodore (1791-1824); (add.info.: Le Dressage Man training (breaking) a horse with docked tail

The Marquee of the wrestler Dubois, boulevard de la Villette, 1870 (oil on wood)
903781 The Marquee of the wrestler Dubois, boulevard de la Villette, 1870 (oil on wood) by Bussilliet, C. (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Step right up and witness the mesmerizing world of circus performance. 🎪✨ Immerse yourself in a captivating spectacle that has enthralled audiences for centuries. Transporting us back in time, the restored Taureador Fresco from the Palace of Minos at Knossos (Evans Fresco Drawing N/4) takes center stage. This remarkable painting, created between 1900-50 using paper and pigment, offers a glimpse into ancient civilizations' fascination with acrobatics and entertainment. As we marvel at daring feats, let's not forget the ingenious inventions that make them possible. The ladder gripping attachment patent of 1913 (C024 / 3612) revolutionized aerial performances by providing stability and safety to performers defying gravity high above our heads. Intriguingly juxtaposing elegance and humor, we encounter "Spirit of Burlesque" (1868), an enchanting print capturing the essence of this unique form of entertainment. Its vibrant colors transport us to a world where laughter intertwines with graceful movements. Behind every flawless act lies countless hours of preparation. "A Dress Rehearsal" (1868), depicted through oil on panel, showcases performers perfecting their routines before dazzling audiences under the big top. Their dedication shines through as they strive for perfection. "The Derby Day" (1856), immortalized in oil on canvas during 1893-94, brings forth images of circus-goers eagerly awaiting thrilling equestrian displays amidst an atmosphere charged with anticipation. The vivid strokes convey both excitement and nostalgia for simpler times. Amongst all these wonders stands an enigmatic figure: "At the Circus: Horsewoman" (1888). Tambourine in hand, she captivates spectators with her skillful maneuvers atop majestic horses—a testament to human-animal harmony achieved through years of practice.